Thread: Temp Sender?

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What or maybe were is the correct spot for the temp sender? On my 57 Chevy I just finished a Small Block 383 Build and install. Dumb me I didn't install the sender until after I got the engine bolted down all snug and secure. The easy place was to install the sender in the drivers side head between the number 1 and 3 plugs. You all know the place I am talking about there is a big old plug there in all 350 type heads, I assumed ( there's that word) that plug was actually for a sender. Now that spot seems to me to be a Hot Spot right in the head and between those two cylinders. Got me to wondering should I have installed the sender in the manifold? Plug there as well. Is there a temp difference? Reading from the sender I have installed in the head temps seem a little high, runs at 210 to 220 will get even hotter at times and cools down when I coast down a long hill in neutral to as low as 200. Just got me to wondering is there a big difference of the temp if taken from difference places?

RS

The gauge will show cooler using the location by the thermostat housing. I guess it's a matter of personal preference as to whether you want to see the reality of temp at the head.

The proper place is in the head.

Originally Posted by sg4356

The proper place is in the head.

How did you come to this conclusion? As tech said I believe it's a matter of personal preference and besides Chevy mounted them in the intake manifold for many moons.

When I put my 23 together I put the sender in the back of the intake manifold......highest temp it recorded there was 120 degrees. I moved it to the front, right by the thermostat housing and it went up to 150. Now, with a 190 thermostat it reads about 170 all the time. Not sure why it was so much cooler in the back of the intake.

Don

Thanks guys, I don't know were the correct place was thus the question. I do know that Chevy has used both locations at different times. It just never occured to me that there would be such a difference. It only makes sense if you think about it, the head location has just got's to be hotter governed by whats around it.

After reading what Tech and SG said I went and bought two more temp gauge and installed one in the Manifold by the Thermostat Housing, and the other in the passenger side head. I took the car out for a little drive I was really surprised at the different readings. The gauges are all Autometer manual gauges, the readings at cruising, and I was driving around on the country roads around here. Car is a 1957 2 Door Wagon, with a just rebuilt 383 and a Muncie M21 4 speed.



Car was driven around for about 20 min before I took these readings. Reading from Drivers side head 220 Degree's ( wish we had that little degree symbol) temp from passenger side head 230 degree's, temp from Intake Manifold 195 degree's. The readings being different bothered me some so I went back to the shop and changed the guages around. Drivers side to the manifold, passenger side to the drivers side, and the intake sender to the passenger side. A warning let the damn thing cool waaaay down before you do this, I was a little hasty and I am paying the price for my haste NOW.

Another little cruise and took the readings again. Drivers side head 220 degree's, passenger side head 235 degree's and the intake 190-200 degrees.

One interesting observation, while I was driving there is a big hill going into Guntersville on Hiway 69 down grade is about 3/4 or maybe a little more of a mile. When I topped the crest the readings were just about what is above. I shifted into neutral and let the car coast all the way to the bottom of the hill, I was doing right at 60 MPH and didn't loose much of that speed all the way down. The guages for both heads cooled way down to 195-200 degrees, the guage reading the intake manifold temp did not move and stayed right at 190.

I am going to leave all three gauges hooked up and watch this for a spell. I now believe that the head probably gives a hotter temp and for that reason alone may just be the correct place if you want to really know what is going on. Thanks again Folks!!

RS

Originally Posted by Hombre259

Car was driven around for about 20 min before I took these readings. Reading from Drivers side head 220º (wish we had that little degree symbol) temp from passenger side head 230º, temp from Intake Manifold 195º. The readings being different bothered me some so I went back to the shop and changed the guages around. Drivers side to the manifold, passenger side to the drivers side, and the intake sender to the passenger side. A warning let the damn thing cool waaaay down before you do this, I was a little hasty and I am paying the price for my haste NOW.

Another little cruise and took the readings again. Drivers side head 220º, passenger side head 235º and the intake 190º-200º.

One interesting observation, while I was driving there is a big hill going into Guntersville on Hiway 69 down grade is about 3/4 or maybe a little more of a mile. When I topped the crest the readings were just about what is above. I shifted into neutral and let the car coast all the way to the bottom of the hill, I was doing right at 60 MPH and didn't loose much of that speed all the way down. The guages for both heads cooled way down to 195º-200º, the guage reading the intake manifold temp did not move and stayed right at 190º.

I am going to leave all three gauges hooked up and watch this for a spell. I now believe that the head probably gives a hotter temp and for that reason alone may just be the correct place if you want to really know what is going on. Thanks again Folks!!

RS

Your wish has been granted, now you have it.

Mike

OK Mike Now how do I do it?

RS

It should be always mounted in the manifold. Mounting it in the head will give you a 20-25 deg hotter reading as the coolant is just circulating there in the hottest part of the head around the exhaust valves.
The biggest thing one must remember is that the sending unit in the manifold is reading the coolant at its hottest point, BUT the coolant being read is also leaving the motor and going into the radiator to be cooled down. So if the fan, radiator, water pump are doing there jobs, the coolant should be coming back into the block on the suction side of the lower hose at least 15-20 deg cooler.

Sunsetdart is right, that is why the ECU equipped motors do not use the head sensor to run EFI, they all have one in the manifold they use to tell the ECU what the final (actual) temp of the water is before it leaves the motor. The one in the head is used for a temp gage, at the heat source, not for actual water temp.

Pat

Originally Posted by Hombre259

OK Mike Now how do I do it?

RS

When you need to use the º, simply hold down the ALT key and press the 0186 keys.

Here are a few more for ya,

ALT 0162 = ¢, example - 25¢
ALT 0178 = ², example - H²O
ALT 0188 = ¼, example - drag strip is ¼ mile long
ALT 0189 = ½
ALT 0190 = ¾

Have fun playing,
Mike

Mike, you're my hero, thanks very much...

Most older EFI vehicles will use a temp sensor to tell the PCM engine temp & when to turn the fans on & off (if it has electrical fan). They will also have a temp sender that is for the temp gauge or light. The newer vehicles have only one sensor to do the job of one sensor & one sender. The one sensor will send one signal to the PCM & one signal to the BCM. The PCM will interpret the signal & make adjustment to air/fuel ratio, fans, ect The BCM control the gauges & also controls the fans when the a/c is turned on. These systems are networked together & also has a fail safe. If the engine starts to run hot then the PCM will advance timing & dump a little more fuel while the BCM will turn off the a/c & turn the cooling fans on high. Just about have to be an engineer to understand this stuff.

Originally Posted by techinspector1

Mike, you're my hero, thanks very much...

Tech, if you want to have a little fun try these, start at ALT 0128 and go all the way to ALT 0255. Gotta warn ya though, some are a little weird.

RS, sorry for getting off topic, I apologize!!

Mike

Ditto what Tech said Mike. I would have answered sooner but do you have any idea how long it takes to go from 0128 all the way to 0255? Now I have spots in front of my eyes wonder what combination of keys you use to get rid of those?

One more question Mike (ý) Thats some were around 0254 or so I think remember those spots? How or why do you know this? I mean I'm glad you do know it but i'm just wondering. WHY?

Roland