Oil temp gauge install

[hcj986s]

Previous to my Boxster S I had a 944 Turbo. I added the VDO oil temperature gauge, and plumbed the sensor into the oil return line coming off the turbo into the sump. On track, temps would get to 150C / 250F consistently.

Prior to the 944 I had an E36 M3 which I also put in an oil temperature gauge. On track, never above 110C / 230F.

I suspect Porsche tested the oil temperature behavior of the Boxster heavily and found that an oil temperature gauge was redundant. Likewise, BMW probably found the same with the US-spec M3 engine (the Euro spec E36 and all subsequent M3's, which have Euro engines as well, have oil temperature gauges). Frankly, I don't get why these gauges aren't included anyway on Porsches, but I suppose one has to cut costs any way they can. Hence the Boxster's 4-gauge instrument cluster rather than the 996's 6-gauge IC.

Another use of an oil temp gauge is to determine whether the car is warm enough to push hard. Water temperature comes up quickly, but oil temperature lags. One trick is to monitor oil pressure; until warm, the pressure will stay at max even at idle. Once warm, it will begin to fall at idle.

Me, I'd put in a VDO gauge in the center console (oil and volt) if I were really concerned, but I bet it's a waste of $100.

[Mike_Yi]

There is a spot to add an oil pressure sender, or a T where you can add a pressure and temp senders, on the upper, left side of the engine. It's just above, and slightly in front of the most rearward coil pack on that side of the engine (too lazy to look up cylinder number). From what I hear, that is where oil pressure is checked at the factory or something. I also think that is where the 996 pressure sender is located (though it would be on the right side with the engine installed in the 996).

I'm just going to mount the gauges in the GT3 console delete panel.

[ChrisZang]

Mike,

thanks for keeping this thread alive.

I asked the same question on the Pelican board and got two good pieces of information, which I want to share here:

a) "actually you have one inlet port on each side one is already occupied but the other one ( on the drivers side) can be used for an oil pressure sender. "
b) The T-piece won't work as the oil sensor must be where the oil flows not where it basically is static

So, I keep looking....

[Mike_Yi]

Originally Posted by ChrisZang

b) The T-piece won't work as the oil sensor must be where the oil flows not where it basically is static

So, I keep looking....

I assume they mean the oil pressure requires flowing oil. Or do they mean temp? Pressure should not need flow. Pressure is pressure and it exerts force in all directions. I could see oil temp needing flow though. Not sure how you could rig that. Have you tried on the NASA forums? Have you tried contacting any of the teams in the Continental Tire Challenge Series that run Boxsters? I'm sure they have oil temp gauges.

[ChrisZang]

Originally Posted by Mike_Yi

I assume they mean the oil pressure requires flowing oil. Or do they mean temp? Pressure should not need flow. Pressure is pressure and it exerts force in all directions. I could see oil temp needing flow though. Not sure how you could rig that. Have you tried on the NASA forums? Have you tried contacting any of the teams in the Continental Tire Challenge Series that run Boxsters? I'm sure they have oil temp gauges.

Hi Mike,

yes, they meant that they need oil flow for measuring temp
Good idea about contacting them