Oil temp gauge

[CarracerKevin]

Does anybody know how hard it would be to hook up one of Autometer's oil temp gauges?

[Brandon]

its somewhat fun...

ive found it easier to basikly do an oil change while your hooking the meter up...

youll have a sender unit and the gauge...

to install it you have to take out the stock sender unit (that takes the dummy light off the dash (i think theres a way to hook it back up though its not needed)

the easiest way is to get a tool from autozone or someplace to take it out, but before ya do, take out the oil filter (this is why i say do an oil change) cause that will give you much more room to work with up there while pulling the old out and putting the new in..

one wire will need to be ran from the back of the sender unit to the back of the gauge, a positive wire from a switchable source (like the radio or something) and then ground the back of the gauge to a good ground... you can also do the light to the dash lights so it dims with the rest of your dash as well...

[Brandon]

(im also assuming your getting an electric gauge and not a mechanical gauge)

[ajt]

I just got my gauges and I'm just waiting to have some better weather to install them. What is the thread size of the stock sender unit? The one that came with my gauges is 1/8, is that the same as stock or do I have to get some kind of adapter?

[Brandon]

mine was the same size as the stock.. but im not sure if gmchanged it in 99 or not... knowing gm, they did something retarded like that.

[CarracerKevin]

Which gauge would be easier to install: Trans Temp or
Oil Temp

[Brandon]

trans temp is easier to get too, but is also messier because the fluid is still right there, so you will loose some fluid and will have to replace how much drains out....

basikly it would be like trying to change oil plugs with oil in the engine with the difference being the plug on the tranny is higher up.... other then that, its still the same ammount of wiring.

[CarracerKevin]

How can I recognize the oil temp sensor after I take the filter off.

A picture or diagram if at all possible would be appreciated.

[Brandon]

ok... where the oil filter is, there should be a censor right above it... thats your knock censor.... now to the right or towards the drivers side of the engine you'll see another harness with a gray clip and either one or 2 wires coming out of it... its about inline with the oil filter about 6-8 inches to the drivers side of the oil filter... that would be the censor you want to take out... (when your under the car looking up, you'll see it... if your looking from atop the engine you will miss it.

[CarracerKevin]

Does anybody know what the normal temperature for oil is once the car is warmed up?