Oil Temp Probe

[ERA Chas]

Paul's question raises a good additional question; at what level is oil in the pan at idle and then at say 4000RPM?

I know at cold rest, my level is near the top of the cheek. How much gets pumped out of the pan (exposing the sensor) while running? We only need enough to keep the bottom of the pick up submerged-maybe 3/8 to 1/2 ".

And John makes a good point-maybe plugging the sensor bung and using the drain bung is a better idea?

[RET_COP]

Same problem with my Champs pan. By the time I finished adapting my sensor to the pan (top of a wing) it ended up higher then I wanted.I know the sensor is in the oil when the engine is off because the oil level it at the top of the wing, but with the engine running I wonder how low the oil level drops. my sensor will read 10*C hotter when I turn the car off than when running. I'm sure I get splash on the sensor when running because it does read temperature.
Lou

[PaulProe]

Last thing I want to do is drop the pan and weld a bung to it. Major pain plus it ruins the plated finish. Autometer says they can't change the probe and the probe compression fitting precludes you from threading it into the bung any further.

One option is to put the probe into the oil stream, between the block and the remote filter.

What are the advantages / disadvantages of sensing temperature of the oil as it comes out of the pump? Probably a shade higher in temp from the pump / pressure increase.

Not wild about putting the outlet into the oil drain hole.

Paul

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by PaulProe

Not wild about putting the outlet into the oil drain hole.

Paul

Do you mean the sensor into the drain hole??
That's what John and I are referring to.

[patrickt]

Paul, FWIW, Canton Pan, 8.5 qts w/ cooler and remote filter, sensor on the top, NEVER a problem with the sensor being in the oil. Restrictors on the heads -- .060 in size.

[PaulProe]

Patrick
Mine is exactly like yours, except using Autometer gauge. I am guessing yours is another brand? Other than that, looks identical.

I am using the typical FL1 filter on a remote bracket. Determined the level by putting 7 quarts into the pan (Canton calls it an 8 qt system) and then marking the dipstick. I then added enough oil to fill the filter/lines/oil cooler to bring it up to that mark.

Guessing that is a little too low. Spoke to Canton today and they recommended adding a 1/2 Qt. of oil. They were guessing there is enough windage from the big block that it is sucking the oil away from the probe. I am using the Canton 20-938 screen type windage tray. Allows quick return of oil but they say it isn't as effective as their new louver type.

Been searching the FE Forum, trying to find a correct oil level. Wish someone could tell me the distance from the pan rail to the oil surface on a stock motor. By the number of threads regarding this, looks like I am not the only who would like to know this dimension. You'd think after five years, someone would post an answer.

Trying to avoid issues from Over-Filling

Paul

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by PaulProe

Patrick
Mine is exactly like yours, except using Autometer gauge. I am guessing yours is another brand? Other than that, looks identical.

Mine is a Smiths mechanical. Do you have the oil feeds in the heads restricted? If not then you might be filling up up-top and that could be the whole problem.