Where to measure my oil temperature.....help

[dlotz]

Hey guys

I want to put a T into the oil line coming from the remote oil adapter on the side of my 427FE so I can plug my mechanical oil temp sensor in there (I don't have room up front on my Avaid oil pan because it sits too close to the cross member) and I have a question....

QUESTION:
I will be running a oil cooler with a mocal thermostat and a remote oil filter up at the waterpump. So which line should I put the T on to measure the temp at?
A) the line going out of the block to the filter or
B) the return line back from the cooler into the block?

My gut says to measure the oil fresh out of the block going to the filter, but I have heard differently....

Any thoughts?

Thanks

[undy]

I want to know what the temp is coming out of the engine. That's the temp that's critical in my opinion.

Many years ago I installed a slick temperature monitoring system in a 72 Datsun 240Z V8 conversion I did. I installed temperature sending units (drilled and tapped holes when needed) in the rear differential, transmission fluid and engine oil. I ran wire and fed all the sending units up to a partially hidden 3 position rotary switch (Radio Shack sourced). The switch was mounted on a hand fabricated 0.064" thick aluminum "L" bracket, engraved with "eng", "trans" & "diff". It was sprayed semi-gloss black and screwed to the side of the tunnel. The gauge was fed from the installed rotary switch's output. It was nice to be able to switch between the various temps. If I recall the whole system ran me <50 bucks to build..

[jhv48]

I agree. Measure the temp anywhere you can before the oil cooler.

SPF's install the temp gauge on the remote oil filter housing before the oil travels to the cooler.

[PANAVIA]

True, you want the block temp of the oil. --

[Dominik]

The reason you monitor oil temperature is to see how hot the bearings run, or the oil at the hottest place (at the bearings!)

Since we can't really measure at the bearings, so you choose the closest which is the sump.
Add 75F from the reading in the sump. Your bearings burn out at 375F (Thanks RT!)
Stay well below that 210°F and less.

[Michael C Henry]

I had two threaded bungs welded into my Cobra alluminum oilpan. One is where I installed a Steff's 110V ac powered oil heater for those really cold times when I really wanted to get the car out. The other bung is where my oil temp bulb for my mechanical dash gauges is located. My concern is what temp the oil resivoir was in the pan as that is what the oil pump is dealing with. Hy volume oil pump w/ slightly higher releif setting make for a load on distributor drive shaft with cold oil. I reguarly keep an eye on the oil temps. I must try keep engine revs to under 1,000 rpm until oil temp reach 140°. Too high a temp and I'd better start checking things like cooler obstruction, low oil quantity, or too much oil and foam. All thing compared to engine coolant temp and oil pressure, and ambiant air temperature. You'll know what is normal and when something is wrong. Or you could be like my old dentist . He'd say "let me know when it hurts" not that he'd stop doing what ever , just wanted to know.