Aftermarket Water Temperature Gauge Locations

[justjuiceit4]

I did some research and found that the T-fitting is not a good way to go with an aftermarket water temperature gauge. Some places I have thought about placing it is: the bleed screw location, the engine coolant drain plug location(on the block) and inserting an adapter for the upper radiator hose. What are the pros and cons for each of these locations. Thanks.

[onosqv]

block:

pros: looks more oem - don't have to cut hosecons: permanent - have to drill block

adapter:

reverse of block

adapter & screw locations:

pros: costs less, easiercons: can brake easier

If you want better comparison: SEARCCCCHHHH. This has been discussed just a week ago or so.

[D Money]

just get one on the upper radiator hose. anywhere else would just be dumb

[justjuiceit4]

block:

pros: looks more oem - don't have to cut hosecons: permanent - have to drill block

adapter:

reverse of block

adapter & screw locations:

pros: costs less, easiercons: can brake easier

If you want better comparison: SEARCCCCHHHH. This has been discussed just a week ago or so.

I did search! However, nobody mentioned the block drain screw; luckily Nistech gave me some good insight on this.

[justjuiceit4]

just get one on the upper radiator hose. anywhere else would just be dumb

Not according to Nistech!

[deviousKA]

upper radiator hose/water neck will have the highest actual water temperature. Putting the sensor in lower hose, or somewhere lower in the block water temp will be less.

You could try find an s13 ac fan temperature sender radiator hose section (lower hose of s13 w/ac). Put that in your upper rad hose and adapt your sender in some way. I wouldnt mess with the bleeder screw location. The single wire temp sensor in the upper manifold water neck is the one that feeds the stock gauge, if your going aftermarket you could replace this here but will lose the oem gauge function.

Why do you want an aftermarket gauge? or are you triggering electric fans?

[justjuiceit4]

I am planning to doing several modifications to my car and I wanted to keep an eye on the water temps. The factory gauge is very vague and a small movement of needle can be 20-30 degrees increase in water temp! Also, I am planning to hook up and electric fan.

[onosqv]

Yea, keeping an eye on water temp is good. Especially if you run eletric fan setup.

However, I believe a lot more guys find keeping an eye on oil temp & pressure is even more useful, and many times makes the water temp gauge obsolete.

I will be running all of the gauges (depending on how much room I have for gauges) because I'm a data freak.

Upper radiator hose is usually the cheapest/safest compromise between teeing something off & drilling through the block.

[SMoKeM240]

heres mine, had my neighbor weld it up

[justjuiceit4]

So is that just a pipe with a fitting welded on it? Which hose did you attach that too?

[SMoKeM240]

yes, the upper hose and just go to home depot and get a short piece of metal pipe, drill a hole, stick the fitting in it, weld it and then u can screw the temp piece in.. cost me $0 cause my neighbor has all of the stuff