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Integrated Oil Temp Gauge

13K views 13 replies 5 participants last post by  t.er  
#1 · (Edited)
Carrying this over from ZHP Mafia in case people are interested. I've always wanted an oil temp gauge, but wanted to retain a 100% stock look for my car. The stock oil level sensor is actually a oil temp sensor in the pan, and measures oil level based off heat rejection rate to surrounding oil:

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This module basically takes the oil level sensor signal and displays it to your stock heat unit, along with coolant temp, battery voltage, and vehicle speed (which you can scroll through with the BC button). The instructions say that all you have to do is connect 4 wires (for power + signal) and 2 wires in series for the BC button (to control what it displays). Many cars are pre-wired to have the oil level sensor signal at the plugs to the IKE, however mine did not come with one. So I had to extend the wire into the housing for the DME, and tap the signal from there. Aside from that one wire, I followed the instruction to a tee.

Module fully integrated, before putting the gauge cluster back:

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Wire routing for oil level signal:

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Oil temp display:

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Although this mod didn't go as planned (required routing the extra wire through the firewall) I'm still glad to have it in my car, as it'll come in handy with the track days I had planned for this summer (lolz). Indicated oil temp seems very reasonable - lags by coolant temp about 30-40 deg until both are at operating, where during normal driving it stays around 98-100 deg. Haven't had the chance to push the car yet, but I'm curious as to what peak oil temps would be without an oil cooler.
 
#2 ·
Carrying this over from ZHP Mafia in case people are interested. I’ve always wanted an oil temp gauge, but wanted to retain a 100% stock look for my car. The stock oil level sensor is actually a oil temp sensor in the pan, and measures oil level based off heat rejection rate to surrounding oil:
Not true on the non-Ms. They have a thermistor in the oil filter housing for oil temp.
 
#6 ·
I can read oil temp on INPA, but I wouldn't want to have to plug my laptop in every time I want to do so. At least with this you control it with the BC button to scroll through oil & coolant temp, battery voltage, and vehicle speed. For me, having a live reading of oil temp is important, both for warm-up as well as on the track to ensure I'm not overheating the oil
 
#14 ·
Nah, you just have to pull the gauge cluster out and look at the 26-pin connector. Take the connector out of its housing, there is a small tab you depress, then it just slides out. The pins are numbered on the connector, so if you have a wire at pin 17 you can just splice into that.

Below is a pic of the one on my car - pin 17 is empty.

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