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TBI Temp and oil sensors

2421 Views 13 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  jaamzg, 
Pat88ramcharger
I have just picked up sunpro oil pressure, water temp, and volt guages. I am planning on installing them today and just had some thoughts.

just how much of the 318 TBI is controlled by the computer?

can I pull the oem water temp sensor?

my oil press sensor has been bad for a few years now so I am sure that that is not sending anything to the computer, But I am curious about the temp sensor.

Pat
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Runin' With The Devil
Pat,
The water temperature "gauge" sending unit has nothing to do with input or feed back to the computer. It's sole purpose is to make the gauge read or in other cases, turn the red light on. The "coolant temp sensor" is another story and does talk to the computer.
I made a "T-fitting, (out of brass hardware found at the hardware store), for my RC, that allows me to run the factory oil pressure in dash gauge and an Autometer 2 5/8" oil press gauge at the same time. I looked at the schematic for my '90 and I can't see where the oil press. sending unit is in the loop. Eliminating it and running an aftermarket gauge should have no effect on the computer.

Dave 8)
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CLRracer
the temp gauge sending unit is on the passengers side of the intake, but the hole is very small, and no aftermarket gauge will fit it. if u take the coolant temp sensor out, the tbi will run like crap, so i would go with the T like RWTD said. its not the best answer, but its a good enough one.

Duane
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Runin' With The Devil
The factory temperature gauge sending unit screwed right into my Edelbrock performer intake, on the passenger side, front of the manifold. I'd have to look to be 100% sure, but I'm pretty sure it's 1/8" pipe thread, which is pretty standard. The brass "T" I was talking about in my last thread was to allow for the OEM oil pressure gauge and an aftermarket mechanical oil pressure gauge to be hooked up at the same time, so the dash gauge works along with the new gauge.

Dave
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CLRracer
on the stock intake though, an aftermarket temp gauge wont fit where the stock one goes. the hole is too small. and i misread the thing about the oil and temp gauge.

Duane
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Pat88ramcharger
ok i am working on it now...

so let me make sure i got this,

where are you going to with the oil press for the aftermarket gauge. I am planning on going to the factory guage sending unit location because that sensor is bad anyway and it is also the source of my oil leak. This sensor is located to the left of the dist on the back/top of the engine.

now if RWTD put a oem temp sensor into an aftermarket intake, doesnt that mean that an aftermarket guage will fit into the stock manifold??

anyway, which temp sensor can i not disconnect with the TBI??is it the one on the front passenger side of the intake??

also is there a special tool to get the oil sending unit out?? I have just started looking at it and it look very hard to get to.

Thanks for your help!

Pat
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CLRracer
u cant unhook the coolant temp sensor, which is on the driverside of the intake near where the hose goes into the intake. the sending unit for the gauge is on the passenger side, and u can unhook it, but the hole is too small for an aftermarket gauge, unless theyve come out with a gauge that fits.

Duane
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big10
CLRracer said:
u cant unhook the coolant temp sensor, which is on the driverside of the intake near where the hose goes into the intake. the sending unit for the gauge is on the passenger side, and u can unhook it, but the hole is too small for an aftermarket gauge, unless theyve come out with a gauge that fits.

Duane
Click to expand...
It depends on whether the sending unit is for an electric or mechanical gauge.
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Pat88ramcharger
oil and water are mchanical....volt is electrical....but i would imagine that you figured that.

Thanks

Pat
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jaamzg
You need a special socket to get the oil sending unit out. I put in a mechanical sender in my 90 rc. and as for the temp, you should put a "T" a line and leave the temp sending unit where it goes. I made a brass "t" in the heater hose for the temp sending unit.
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Pat88ramcharger
jaamzg said:
You need a special socket to get the oil sending unit out. I put in a mechanical sender in my 90 rc. and as for the temp, you should put a "T" a line and leave the temp sending unit where it goes. I made a brass "t" in the heater hose for the temp sending unit.
Click to expand...
cant use "T" because it is a mechanical guage.

Pat
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jaamzg
Pat88ramcharger said:
jaamzg said:
You need a special socket to get the oil sending unit out. I put in a mechanical sender in my 90 rc. and as for the temp, you should put a "T" a line and leave the temp sending unit where it goes. I made a brass "t" in the heater hose for the temp sending unit.
Click to expand...
cant use "T" because it is a mechanical guage.

Pat
Click to expand...
??? I don't understand why I can't use a "T"....I mean, I already used it! And if you are saying it won't fit cause it's mechanical, yeah, it's a bit long, but you put a spacer where the sensor connects and it fits fine.
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Pat88ramcharger
ok i see what you did, you put the sensor in the heater hose!!!

that is OK

but i want to put the sensor where the dash guage in currently in the intake.

Pat
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jaamzg
oh, yeah, ok. Well, I did that at first, too. And it ran somewhat ok, cause what i did was left the sensor plugged in and laying on top of the manifold. But it sensed it colder than it should and I would get check engine stuff sometimes. So I just put the factory one back into the intake and spliced a "t" into the heater hose and then opened the a/c valve on the heater hose return so the water would circulate and I could have an accurate reading (jf you don't open the valve, the water won't circulate past the sensor and you get an off reading) Anyway, the computer's happy cause it get's it's reading and I'm happy because i have an accurate temp reading.
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