Vash

I am thinking about buying Autometer gauges...
oil temp, oil pressure, air/fuel, and exhaust temp...
I asked a local shop about installation and they the OIL TEMP gauge will cost me a lot for labor because they have to drill into the oil pan for the sensor...
is this true or are the bull$hiting me?

Thanks

xviper

You can get a Greddy oil filter sandwich which will allow easy installation of both oil pressure and oil temp senders. Even if you do drill into the oil pan, it's only about a 2 hour job. Most of us with Vortech S/C have done this at home. They make it sound like brain surgery.

msm_s2k

Local garage I work with charged a total of 2 hrs labor for full install of Defi gauges for oil temp & pressure including install of all sensors, gauges and the defi controller.

Vash

thanks again xviper...
you da man!

do you think it's better to invest in the greddy oil filter sandwich or to just drill into the oil pan?

Vash

how much was 2 hours of labor?
this shop wanted $70 per gauge and over $100 for the oil temp gauge...

msm_s2k

Their labor rate is about $75 an hour. Do the costs you mention include the cost of the gauges or is that just the install? If the cost is just for labor that is $$$. If it includes the gauges, it may not be that bad. The Defi gauges are about $100 each plus you need to buy the controller. Not familiar with costs for the autometer stuff.

xviper

Personally, I hated to drill a hole in my oilpan but had no choice. You do.
An oil temp sensor mounted inside the oilpan will give a more accurate reading of the oil temp. Putting in a Greddy adaptor around the oil filter base will give a slightly altered reading due to the coolant jacket around the oil filter base (which is used as an oil cooler). However, the difference will not be dramatic and everything is relative anyway. In time, you'll know what the normal readings are and if something goes wrong, you'll see the difference and that's really all you need to know at the time.
The final choice must be yours.

Vash

$70 per gauge is only for labor...
yea i thought it was pricy too...