Hello, So I've just sold my bus and I said to the new owners I'll fit them a temperature gauge. Now I've been looking on JK and see they do a kit that replaces the sump plate and drain plug with a sensor. Does anyone have any experience with this as I don't want to fit a naff part and the review on the website are mixed. Or does anyone have an alternative suggestion? Thanks in advance
The sump plate ones can be an issue on the camp site, where they can get caught up in dirt and long grass. Dip stick sender is really easy to fit.
There was a drain plug sensor on my van when I bought it. The system has never worked. I’ve tested the gauge, wiring and sensor and all are ok individually but I’ve never got it to work on the van. The dipstick sensor may be your better option.
Dipstick sender keeps wiring above the tinware away from water and damage.. and also tends to read the slightly higher true oil temperature of the engine as it is not cooled on one side by tbe air flow.
My sender is fitted into the Type 3 oil filler blanking plate. It seems to give pretty good readings. Bit more of a faff to fit, but has been excellent for 7 years.
^this. If it’s VDO it’ll work. Sump plug just too much hassle, and you’ll catch the wire on something. Stick a two-way connector on the dipstick wiring, so you can unplug the whole thing.
I was on the M3 passing JK so had an excuse to pop in and check it out before i bought . VDO guage and i plumped for the dipstick kit , they knocked me a tenner off for collection so fair play ... 2 years down the line and it`s good as gold
Thanks for all the replies! Well, the engine is the 1600cc original one so if I can find a dipstick one to fit I'll go for that. Just a thought, is there any reason why I can not drill an additional hole in the sump plate and tap a new thread so screw a universal temp sensor in and then take that up to the gauges? Whilst I understand it may catch on something, but driven carefully knowing its there it should be fine? Also half the price this way?
Mine setup's worked well for 12 years . Nobody knows what the oil temps are "supposed" to be anyway, so senders in other places won't tell you much more.
You could do that, but you haven't really got much meat for tapping on the sump plate if it hasn't got a drain plug boss. Also, a universal sender may not match your gauge.
This ^^ Just buy the full kit , that way you`ll KNOW it all matches I tried several times with various guages and senders i begged / stole / borrowed but with little success ..
Ah yes just had a look, there isn't really enough is there. Ah damn, I was hoping to get away with using one of the many temp gauges I have randomly accumulated... I've got 6 hanging around in the 'possibly maybe one-day useful' section of my workshop.
