oil temp. sending unit

[max914]

Can anyone tell me where the oil temperature sending unit is located on a 2.0?

[914GT]

On the bottom of the engine where the 'taco plate' cover is.

[SteveStromberg]

It is located on the round plate with two bolts in it on the bottom of the engine.
This plate is know as the"Taco Plate".

[Tidybuoy]

On the bottom of the engine, there is a round plate that looks similar to the oil drain plate but it is near the corner of the engine. On cars with an oil tem gauge, this plate is switched to what is called a "taco plate". You will need one of these which the oil temp sender screws into. See attached photo of a taco plate.





These are hard to find but can sometimes be found on a VW Bus at the wrecking yard. There is a secondary plate that covers the one that I have shown which protects the wiring (sorry, I don't have a photo)

Vern

[max914]

I have looked under the motor and found the plate that you guys are talking about, and it's just that- a plate. I'm confused, my car is a "75 2.0, it has a temp guage in the console but it isn't working. The ground wire is fried and I was going to replace the damaged wire and make sure the sending unit was fine, but it appears my car doesn't have one. Is there anywhere else it could be?

[Tidybuoy]

Do you know for a fact that your car came with a temp gauge or did a prior owner add one.

It's possible that the prior owner (like me) added a center console. After I added the console, I discovered that there was no place to hook up the temp gauge at the engine - until I removed the flat cover and installed the taco plate.

All of the '73 & later cars have the wiring at the center console but when you get to the engine compartment, the taco plate is required to complete the installation.

In addition to the taco plate, there are a couple of metal things (like clips) bolted to the enging that the wire routes thru. This keeps the wire from touching hot things and burning up. If your car was supposed to have a gauge, it should also have these.

It's very easy to put in a taco plate, you just have to get one. I see them on e-bay from time to time but they usually go for $65 & up (probably because you need one to install the gauge).

The taco plate is the factory place to install the temp sender. This is because it puts the sender directly into the oil.

Also, just because your car is a '75 2.0 does not mean it came with a temp gauge. This was optional equipment on '74 & later cars (including the console). Many guys add them later which may be your case.

Vern

[Tidybuoy]

Here are some more photos. The orig photos that I posted above were downloaded from the internet some years ago.

The photos below are what I purchased for my car to add an oil temp sender.

The 1st photo shows the taco plate with the sender installed. This uses an o-ring to seal up to the engine. This is the side that fits into the bottom of the engine.



The next photo shows the other side of the taco plate (outer side facing the ground). This has the sender installed and also shown is the cover plate that protects the wire.



The last photo shows what everything will look like after it is installed.

It took me two years to acquire the plate - but I'm cheap and could have actually gotten one years ago.




You might post a note on the 914 want ads of this site indicating that you are looking for one of these. Many of they guys have an extra to sell.


Hope this helps..............................Vern

[Tidybuoy]

Last comment:

I've also heard that you can simply drill a hole into your existing plate and thread a sender into that. But I would get a spare plate just incase it gets screwed up.

Vern

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Supposedly all of the 2.0s came with oil temp gauges. The ones that did not have center consoles had the gauge in the top of the "combo gauge" where the fuel gauge lives.

Is it possible that your "2.0" is not, in fact, a 2.0 motor? Or perhaps someone raided it for the temp sender plate in the past?

Then again, it is always dangerous to say "all XX 914s came with YY", because there always seems to be at least one exception.

--DD

[max914]

How can I tell for sure that my motor is a 2.0? I know it has a 2.0 air cleaner, but I guess that doesn't mean anything. By the way I really appreciate all the help.

[Tidybuoy]

This link will take you to a website that has info on serial numbers for engine cases and heads. Also, Porsche 914 2.0 heads have 3 bolts where the intake manifolds bolt on. 1.8's & 1.7's have 4-bolt intakes.

http://www.tunacan.net/t4/reference/case.htm

Vern

[Tidybuoy]

I just say this on E-Bay. Maybe you could get one of these until you can find a taco plate. See attached link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=46100&item=7969863122

Vern

[jamcleod]

... and i think the winning bid price is more than the cost of a new sender bought from a vendor! then add shipping.

[Tidybuoy]

Probably. But this is an example of what's out there. Try a VW Shop.

[max914]

Thanks everybody for all of your input. It was very helpful.

I did buy the VDO drain plug sending unit off eBay and it is working fine with the original temperature gauge, but the thread size was not correct and I had to drill and retap the hole.

max914