Oil temp sensor questions RB25/30

[GeeDog]

Oil temp sensor questions RB25/30

Hi All,

Hoping someone knows a bit more about this than me. We are about to fit an oil temp gauge to our track car - now with a 25/30 motor. We have used the RB30 oil pressure gauge sensor hole in the block (1/8 BSP just behind the oil filter) to run a braided line to the VCT feed in the head (via an elbow and some 1/8 & 1/4 BSP & AN fittings), and the easiest place to put the temp sensor is in this line. I am planning to replace a 1/4BSP joiner with a 1/4BSP T-piece (all female threads), and use a reducer to fit the sensor into the side of the T-piece. The T-piece will be at the block end of the line - as the oil exits the block, not as it enters the head.

My question is - how much oil flows through this line feeding the VCT solenoid & into the head? This will determine how much the temperature in this line varies from the oil temp in the engine. I believe that this oil feed also lubes the front cam bushes, so I expect there is continous oil flow through the line - is this correct? Is the oil at this point likely to be the same temperature (or close enough for getting a reasonable indication) as the oil in the engine?

[GTSBoy]

I think the answer to your question involves a sandwich plate.

[89CAL]

Yeah you really need it in a hole made for it or perhaps an adapter in the hot side of your oil cooler lines (if you have one) so you can put the sensor in the main flow of oil. VCT line will never flow enough in my mind

[thebe]

And a sandwich plate is quite easy to install aswell. When my engine was out I welded a bung to my oil pan for the temp sensor. Used my sandwich plate for vct feed and oil pressure sensor