Offroad-Express

I'm looking at installing an aftermarket Oil Temp and Oil Pressure gauge in my 92 Hilux. It's got the NA 2.8l 3L engine it. I was looking at an adaptor that fits between the block and the oil filter as a way to do this and was after a bit of advice on a few things.

a) Is this the best/easiest way to do this?
If so, b) what size is the thread that I'll need to get for the adaptor?
c) If it's not the best way, what do people recommend to do?

I would like to use electronic gauges and also leave the current oil pressure sender in place so the original gauge still works. Has anyone else done anything like this?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Cheers.

curious_george wrote:I'm looking at installing an aftermarket Oil Temp and Oil Pressure gauge in my 92 Hilux. It's got the NA 2.8l 3L engine it. I was looking at an adaptor that fits between the block and the oil filter as a way to do this and was after a bit of advice on a few things.

a) Is this the best/easiest way to do this?
If so, b) what size is the thread that I'll need to get for the adaptor?
c) If it's not the best way, what do people recommend to do?

I would like to use electronic gauges and also leave the current oil pressure sender in place so the original gauge still works. Has anyone else done anything like this?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Cheers.

There is a oil pressure sender outlet under the exhaust manifold behind the alternator, that would be much easier and cheaper to use

I dont think I would worry about oil temp I would look at exhaust temp up in the manifold, it is a far more useful temp to monitor as it will tell you how hot the exhaust is and you can slow down, ease up or decide to winch depending on why the engine is running hot.

I have seen a stuck truck running normal oil temo with very high exhaust temp, and the same with a truck towing it depends why you are monitoring the exhaust temp is the first to show and the most risky for engine life, depending where you put it (the closer to where the 4 join or the head the more accurate) it is also pretty easy to put one in as it is up near the top of the engine. Have a look at Bulletproof's threas in new members he has a bit on it in there.

Hi , as your name says----- curious_george , is this why you want to monitor oil pressure and temperature . The easiest way to fit these would be to use the extra ports as DBW has said or to make up "T" pieces to fit to the original sender port . All the extra monitoring systems is going to tell you is you have pressure and your standard gauge is already telling you this and the temperature will tell you that the oil is very hot and any good engine oil will easily operate with in these temperatures with out effecting it's viscosity. I don't believe that analog gauges are calibrated fine enough to get exact readings, to really tell the story you would need to go digital and for all this to work for you you will need the engine pressure and temperature parameters. Most mechanical failures go unnoticed on the read outs and the damage is done before the monitoring is read, your better off with an audible or big flashing light system, or with our drivers ( I won't use the word operators ) a big spike through the seat. I still believe if you want some extra BLING on the dash that the best Monitoring gauge you can drive by is to fit an EXHAUST GAS TEMPERATURE GAUGE.

FITZY.

Haha Fitzy - you would be 100% right about the name - and the only reason for really wanting the gauges is my own (morbid?) curiosity. I have an EGT on the way - just looking for a place to mount it really - I'm not a big fan of stuff all over the dash so making it tidy could be tricky. That was partially also the reason for the oil gauges - if I'm going to make a mount, then it might as well be for more than one gauge!

I guess it could be a little more justifiable if my truck didn't have an oil pressure gauge but it does and it works so that might just be forgotten about - but I did read that the hilux water temp gauge was inaccurate or unreliable - is there any truth to that?

curious_george wrote:Haha Fitzy - you would be 100% right about the name - and the only reason for really wanting the gauges is my own (morbid?) curiosity. I have an EGT on the way - just looking for a place to mount it really - I'm not a big fan of stuff all over the dash so making it tidy could be tricky. That was partially also the reason for the oil gauges - if I'm going to make a mount, then it might as well be for more than one gauge!

I guess it could be a little more justifiable if my truck didn't have an oil pressure gauge but it does and it works so that might just be forgotten about - but I did read that the hilux water temp gauge was inaccurate or unreliable - is there any truth to that?

Mine is quite accurate and reliable, it always sits at the exact same point when up to temp, just below the little thermometer logo

And this was tested when I had a partially blocked radiator and the needle would creep up and then drop back after turning the heater on!!!