come on scionlife - don't fail me now.
I'm looking at adding a water temp. gauge and the manufacture suggests a block port mount and not a hose mount. so, does anyone know what thread size the little port is in the block?

 

Who is the manufacturer that is recommending not to use a hose mount? It is not a recommendation based on any facts that I can come up with.
The Scion xa/xb engine hase one temp port right where the water hose goes into the head and the temp sensor is for the stock light on the dash(blue/red) It cannot be shared with another gauge as it operates different from a temp gauge sender. It cannon be replaced because the computer is looking for it all the time.
There is a water jacket drain on the rear side of the block under the header/exhause manifold. However, that is an access to the engine block water jacket. Not a good source for water temp gauge as it usually runs 10 to 30 degrees less than the head water jacket.
The placement of an adapter in the upper radiator hose is a very simple procedure. It gives a source temp that is essentially identical to the factory sensor. The only additional requirement is that the adapter must be seperately grounded, and a ground lug is provided. Just run a piece of 14 to 16 gauge wire over about 12 inches to the frame ground that goes right to the negative post on the battery. Piece of cake.
Cost of the adapter is worth 10 times for the reduction of hasseling with adapters etc.

Walt

 

Hey Newtmaker,


Did you ever get a 150 psi Oil pressure gauage, and also what size was the adapter for the raditor hose. I am thinking and inch and 1/4 or?




Thx



jallamas

 

Yes, I got the VDO 150 psi gauge and sender. Ironically the pressure now reads about 90 to 95 when cold and drops to 65 to 75 when fully warmed up. I guess the other electric gauge was bad???
I got the radiator hose adapter from ScionSport.com. It is made by AC Autotronics, listed specifically for the xb. I believe it is 1.25 or 1.375, not sure. It is a good fit and easy to install. Just put a thin film of oil on the fitting and inside the hose to facilitate the hose slipping easily on the adapter. Also, make sure you cut a 1" wide piece out of the hose to allow the adapter to fit without any problems. The two hose clamps needed were included in the package.

Walt

 

I've got the same adapter that I will be using when I install my water temp guage. I also purchased their oil pressure adapter block.

I just need to order my guages now....

 

Walt thanks for the info, was the wires hard to run from the A pillar gauge pod? I would like to go throught the main wire gommet on the drivers side.




Thanks



John

 

Has anyone used the oil filter TEMPERATURE adapter from Scionsport for oil PRESSURE? Would it be accurate there or would I have to find a port on the block?

 

DoWopbx, read the first part of this thread and you will find the info you need on this adapter.





John

 

[quote="jallamas"]Walt thanks for the info, was the wires hard to run from the A pillar gauge pod? I would like to go throught the main wire gommet on the drivers side.

Yes, that is where I ran the two wires (water temp and oil pressure). I already had wires for the cruise running through there so it was a piece of cake.


Walt

 

Yes, that adapter has 4 ports that can be used. All are 1/8 x 27 pipe thread, the most common used. When you install the adapter if you are careful when you tighten it down and hold it firmly where you want it to stay (tricky) you can conceiveably use all 4 ports. Why I have no idea. Oil temp and oil pressure are the only two used I can come up with.
The oil pressure at this point (going into the filter) is oil directly from the oil pump prior to going through any bearing orfices. Theoretically, oil pressure used to be measured from the oil galley port as it went into the cam bearings and rod and main journals. A reduction in pressure could be indicative of bad bearings. Nowdays with these close tolerance engines, I don't see one point being better than another. Years ago I had an oil pump fail and it shows up almost instantly. I also spun some bearings on an old small block chevy and the pressure dropped immediately, followed within minutes by rod and bearing knock. The nice thing about gauges is they give immediate indication of where you stand. I mentioned in another post some time back of a Mazda p/u that developed a severe leak in the oil pressure sender unit. I did not have gauges and the lights never came on until about 30 seconds before the engine seized.

Walt

 

Hey Walt does it just spin on like a oil filter and the filter goes on top of it? Thanks for all your help.




John

 

Walt-

thanks a million for the info. you (and others) have come thru time and time again.

I have the VDO Cockpit White gauges. that particular series doesn't come in a 150psi oil pressure gauge - so I gotta go w/ the 80psi. but, it's sounds like that may work since yours is now reading 65 - 75psi.

the VDO literature I've read is where I got the info. that tapping into the hose is an inaccurate source and tapping into the block is better. however, that didn't seem 100% correct to me, and couple that w/ your experience and wisdom, I'm gonna go w/ the AC Autotronics adapter. BTW, what sender did you get for your water temp. gauge? VDO carries like 30 different ones. VDO is also very specific on coupling the correct sender to the gauge. the oil sender is 1/8 x 27, but I'm now sure which sender is correct for the AC Autotronics/ VDO water gauge.

 

It's kinda hard to describe. You don't spin it on like a filter. You remove the filter, wipe the surface clean and dry. Place the adapter side with two O-rings up and screw in the new filter mounting thread fitting. You will need a 1 1/16 socket to do this, or whatever the metric equivalent is. This is where it is tricky to hold the adapter while tightening the fitting. It wants to turn the adapter and it's hard to hold exactly where you want it. Then you are looking at a new filter mounting boss that is about an inch below the stock one and around the edges are 4 ports for senders.

Walt

 

If you order from egauges (do a google search on vdo gauges) they only list one sender in the 1/8 x 27 npt. It will work for your gauge and will fit the ac adapter. It's like 7.00, real cheap!!
I think you have to take into consideration that vdo doesn't recommend tapping into hoses because they have no control over WHICH hose the user will pick. Some folks out there would try to tap into a heater hose if you let them and then wonder why the temp never gets very hot in the summer like it should
The ac adapter really is neat and makes the job sooooo easy. BTW, my water temp runs about 190 to 195 unless I hit some slow stop/go traffic with the ac on. Then it will creap up another 10 degrees but still less than what I would consider too hot.

Walt

 

Walt, did you have any issues with leaking and when you did this is the oil only in the filter so you do not have to drain oil?




Thanks again Walt!



John

 

No need to drain the oil. It is best to do the job when the engine is stone cold. The only leaks I have encountered is the unused plugs really need to be tight otherwise they will seep oil slightly. I would recommend putting some thread sealer on the unused port plugs before install and then tighten them down. They are allen head plugs so getting them tight with just an allen wrench is difficult. Just be careful not to strip something out!!!

Walt

 

Thanks Walt! I appreciate all your help! Have a good day.




John

 

Ummm... I think I would spend the $100 for the Blitz Cooling Performer upper radiator hose. Have you considered that option? Not sure on the compatibility with euro gauges or crappy US gauges... definatley should work with Jap gauges.

Just a suggestion...