Lotus Elan Central

I`ve alway been curious what the oil temp runs on the Elan so i`m going to fit a temp gauge.

Manage to win a gauge for £1.10 of ebay but trying to match a sender is proving difficult as most senders are of a lower temp

This gauge reads 60 to 170 C and i`m thinking of fitting were the ash tray is
My Gauge

I`ve been doing a little research on where to fit the sender and it looks like the Sump plug is the way to go.
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/products/ ... 20&vat=inc

But i need to know what the stock sump plug thread size is ?

I have a spare plug that Doug gave me.
So I measured it with my orange gauge (outside in shreddies and green wellies to the garage - not a pretty sight).

M14x1.5 (and no I haven't got any pictures!) - then I noticed it said the very same thing on the packaging.

Nice one Sy, at least now i can start ordering some bits

Think i`ve also solved the Sender that i require I believe the MGF has the same type of gauge but will have to bodge the connection

Brand new in packet a Genuine Rover Part YCB100290 Oil Temperature Transducer 170 Degrees C

Will fit MGF [ most models]

Well the sump plug adaptor aint going to work as by the time you`ve fitted the sensor it` s sitting to low and only get ripped off by the 1st speed hump i go over so i decided to buy a Hose adaptor from Demon tweeks http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/products/ ... e=LMA090/B
went for the 13mm and to fit the M10x1 sensor.

It`s now installed in to the top oil hose going to the right handside of the oil cooler which comes from the oil filter, but i`m having trouble with the wiring.

Think this be one for Mr Smith to solve
On the back of the Gauge there`s G, + and a upside down T, but if i put a live to the + and earth the G the needle goes straight over so i assume that the G is for the sensor/switch and the upside down T is for the Earth but i had the engine running for awhile and the gauge isn`t moving

1) have i wired it wrong
2) have i got a the wong sensor
3) the engine oil doesn`t get above 60 C

Oi tink it's two or tree.

If the normal operating temp for coolant is ~80degC then I can't see the oil not reaching 60degC.

Monty, do you know the technical characteristics of the sensor and gauge, are they matched?

Thanks for the reply guys

So i`ve got the wiring correct

ailwyn wrote:If the normal operating temp for coolant is ~80degC then I can't see the oil not reaching 60degC.

Monty, do you know the technical characteristics of the sensor and gauge, are they matched?

See what you mean about the coolant temp but i would off thought the oil temp would be slightly higher or at least the same
The Sensor is a brand new MGF part but it is for 170c gauge, as i believe the MGF use the same gauge. May be i should off gone for a 40c to 150c gauge but this one is a VDO same as our stock FBT and only cost me £1.20

Demon tweaks do the VDO sensors but don`t list one for the 170c gauge

Maybe i`ll try another sensor

Bit late now, but if the two parts weren't matched, I'd have put it in a kettle of boiling water to check the 100°C point before fixing it.

GeoffSmith wrote:Bit late now, but if the two parts weren't matched, I'd have put it in a kettle of boiling water to check the 100°C point before fixing it.

mmmmmm, actually i did do that weeks ago when i 1st got the parts but i had the same result and i thought it was just down to me and my wiring Maybe i`ll just go for another gauge that comes with a sender

Is there away off testing the sensor with a Multimeter?

Just a thought...

Do normal sensors read the temperature on the input or the output of the oil cooler?

I'd guess the output, then you know you have cool oil going in to your engine...

TTFN

Specky wrote:Just a thought...

Do normal sensors read the temperature on the input or the output of the oil cooler?

I'd guess the output, then you know you have cool oil going in to your engine...

TTFN

Good question,

I believe most put the sensor ethier at the sump or using a sandwich plate at the oil filter so this would be before oil gets to the oil cooler, i would imagine that since the oil is on a cycle that the temp would be quite consistant throught the system

The main thing for me is to gauge the temp from stock boost to 1bar and to see how the temp is effected when i`m on track. + then i`ve got something to compare with when i come to fit the bigger turbo next year as this will help me decide if i need a bigger Oil cooler


BTW does anyone know how to remove the back plastic section on were the ashtray is as this is were i`ll be sticking the Temp gauge

Monty wrote:

Specky wrote:BTW does anyone know how to remove the back plastic section on were the ashtray is as this is were i`ll be sticking the Temp gauge

Yep....


























You can just pry it out carefully....

Pop the ash tray...

wiggle and lever the suround...

The best bit it's a Lotus so they glued it in as well...

or you can try and push it out from behind...

It's not the easiest thing to get out...

and the aperture is quite tight to...

TTFN

Thanks Dave,

I had a feeling it was glued in, i need try levering it out a while ago but didn`t want to mark the facia. I`ll have another go.



Well i decided rather than spend more money on another sender that i`ll just go for a new gauge which comes with one. Anyways I`ve bought this one http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Meter-Gauge-OIL-T ... 286.c0.m14 off ebay cheap as chips. Hopefully i`ll get it in a couple of days and get it fitted for the trip to Hethel (it`ll give dico something to watch )

It has little plastic retainers as well...

If you look inside the shell you will see the holes...but then again I guess you know that...

But then again it won't matter if you break them...

oooooh another thing... If you're going to mod the ashtray don't forget to make it removeable... Don't forget that's where the Maxi fuses live...

TTFN

Specky wrote:It has little plastic retainers as well...

If you look inside the shell you will see the holes...but then again I guess you know that...

But then again it won't matter if you break them...

oooooh another thing... If you're going to mod the ashtray don't forget to make it removeable... Don't forget that's where the Maxi fuses live...

TTFN

Cheers Dave,

My intention is to remove the rear plastic in one piece just incase the ashtray ever goes back in (as if thats going to happen)

Got to work out how to make the new panel removable without seeing screws etc

Well I recieved the new gauge & sender today and now have it fitted, the wiring took awhile

I tested the Gauge and sender on the bench but i was having the same problem as before No reading, anyways i then realised that since the sensor wasn`t being fitted to the engine the base needed earthing and the only way i could do that is by wrapping the wire around the base of the sensor and earth it to the chassis (see photo`s) So my other Gauge & sensor should be working fine and i`ll stick it on ebay

Left the car running at ideal till the fans kicked in and i`m getting 85c and went up to 90c, be interesting to see what the temps are at:
Normal driving (little boost)
Boosting at stock
Boosting at 1 bar
and then the same after the big turbo instal


One thing i`m worried about is that the metal adaptor that i`ve fitted in the oil line gets quite hot and hope it won`t bloody catch fire or melt through the lower hose? But i guess there design to cope with those temps
I`ve wrapped the lower pipe with some rubber and covered it with electrical tape + i`ve also took some off the weight of the adaptor by means off a cable tie to the chassis.

I may be smoking all the way to Hethel

Hi all,
I just bought A VDO oil temp. gauge/sender. The sender Thread is M14x1.5 and I am thinking to mount it in place of the oil drain plug. I know it's a vulnerable place but I don't do much off road driving
Anyway I have a question: Maybe it seems a dumb question but would it not be possible to install the sender (with an adaptor) where the oil pressure transducer is mounted? I pressume in the back side of the engine.
I appreciate your opinion!
Cheers

in my bug racing days i used a remote oil filter . the aircooled vw bug only has an oil strainer.
the temp sender was fitted in a hole we drilled and taped in this remote cooler .
this gave good temp readings.
i used autometer gauges and senders.
maybe the oil filer mount could be removed and moddyfyed in this way.
ps ive found removing the cd played is a far better way of getting at the maxi fuses . than tearing out the ash tray.

valimar wrote:... where the oil pressure transducer is mounted? I pressume in the back side of the engine.

Apperently it is at the back of the engine but very difficult to get to.

GeoffSmith wrote:

valimar wrote:... where the oil pressure transducer is mounted? I pressume in the back side of the engine.

Apperently it is at the back of the engine but very difficult to get to.

the oil needs to flow past the sensor to get a good reading