Nice and interesting discussion.
Question ?
How do you operate your VDO instrument to measure engine oil temperature??
Where and how did you connect the sensor?
What sensor did you use?
Do you have a diagram or a drawing of how and where to put the sensor??
Thank you
VDO makes two types of gauges to do this. They have a capillary gauge, which I am not familiar with, but which you examine here:
https://www.vdo-instruments.com/ins...oil-temperature-gauge-with-144-capillary.html
The other gauges they make are electric. This is what I am using. I installed a sensor like this (although my sender does not have the Bosch/Tyco formed connector, but instead merely has a tab for a wire with a quick connect fitting) -
https://www.vdo-instruments.com/sen...5-266f-130c-41-8-ohm-with-tyco-connector.html. I installed this by drilling and tapping a hole into the side of the oil filter canister housing. This only works on the m30 style canister housing. If you look at the housing when its installed on the engine, there is a boss on the side of the housing that makes a nice location for the sender. In the third picture in this post, you can see the boss with a hole in it that I used to locate my gauge.
https://e9coupe.com/forum/threads/progress.31902/post-291513
I enlarged that hole, punched through so the sender would contact engine oil, and tapped the hole to accommodate the m12 x 1/5 thread on the sender. I then wired the sender to the gauge.
This does not work on a top bolt housing. If you change to a top bolt housing, there is not enough depth for the sensor to install without leaking (and yes, I know this because I tried it and destroyed a housing). The check valve inteferes with the installation of the sensor. Here is a picture of the check valve:
https://e9coupe.com/forum/threads/progress.31902/post-292343
Another option I looked at was a sender that installed in place of the oil drain plug. I did not use this type of sender, and I don't see it in VDO's catalog any more.
