Oil Temp. Display - Measures oil temp. from engine or going to engine?
 

I always wondered about this, makes a difference. Does the oil temp. displayed relate to oil comming from the engine or going to it?

Its measuring the oil from the pump on its way to the cam tower. If the engine is warm, it has just been cooled via internal or external cooler and just freshly filtered (if it wasnt bypassed).

So we're not getting the true reading regarding how hot the oil gets. What we see is the temp. after cool down and that doesn't tell me anything about engine status.

That is quite true. There are far hotter spots in the engine.

Okay, on this same subject, where exactly is the temp sensor? My gauge has never worked, and the spot someone pointed out to me definitely has no sensor.

Do other high performance cars take the oil temp. readings unstream to the engine or downstream? I suppose it's nice to know what's going to the engine too, but the difference between in and out would be more informative.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/146505-what-gauges-you-running.html has some good info on this idea. Rather than worrying about where the oil temp is measured, it seems that other people are installing cylinder head temp gauges, exhaust gas temp gauges, etc. Seems like if you were really serious about it, you could install a "hot leg oil temp" gauge on the high side.

Dan

CHT readings are immediate.. oil temps lag big time.
It's easy to control temps Before the oil temps rise with a CHT.
Lowering oil temps is a PIA, IMHO.
EGT is neurotic perfection; but a great indication of a clogged fuel dist leg or clogged carb, thus preventing a burnt piston or valve, IMO.

FWIW..My EGT varies between cyls 30deg to 40deg +- 2degF with a stock CIS setup. An EGT differential alarm is really neurotic; but nice and big $.