81 SC Oil Temperature not registering

[haveacamper]

Hi guys,

I've recently got my 81 SC engine up and running and I'm now going through a few teething issues. one of which is that my oil temp gauge isn't registering oil temperature.

when i put ignition on, both pressure and temperature (same gauge) needles move off their rest position slightly. then when i crank and fire up the pressure needles registers pressure and the light goes out.

even after a good drive in 70degreeF on the motorway at 70mph the temperature needle remains where it lifted to when ignition was first put on - which happens to be 120.

i have checked the gauge and i can get it to travel to the upper limit by connecting it to something with alot less resistance than the temp sender - the pressure sender. i have also checked the continuity of my sender wire and this was good.

I do have a Mocal aux cooler with fan, but even after a significant drive i should surely get up up around operating temperature

any ideas why I'm not registering any temperature?

NaFe

[KNS]

It sounds like your sender, not difficult to swap out.

[DSR]

How difficult is it to replace one? Can it be done with the engine in the car? Have an 83 sc that has a guage that is not acurately showing the temp.

Thanks,
David

[haveacamper]

Is there a way of testing whether its working. I know I can test the resistance but what should the resistance range be?

Can I alos replace this without dropping the oil. Will the oil spill out if I just take the sender out

[Bill Jennings]

Changing the sender is easy.
Unplug sender wire.
Clean around sender so no debri gets into engine when you remove it..
Put rag under sender to catch the small amount of oil that will come out.
Have the new sender ready with a new sealing ring.
Undo the old sender, remove with left hand, have new sender in right hand and screw in immediately.
I had less than a teaspoon of oil come out doing it this way.
Replace sender wire and your good to go.

[haveacamper]

Ok. Do you know where to get the circular shaped connector to go onto the sender? Mine is a circular push connector rather than a spade - like on my oil pressure sender

[haveacamper]

I went for a spin today and before I fired it up I disconnected the wire to the sender and measured the resistance. It measured anouilh 1530ohms. After driving around for about 30mins the resistance measured 350ohms.

Can anyone tel me whether this resistance range is right?