Hey Fellas,

I'm looking for alternative senders to use with a Temp. Gauge that's part of the combo gas gauge.
I know what the stock/correct sender type and placement is, but I don't want the hassle of the taco plate mounting and issues associated with that. Is there another sender that works with this gauge that is an easy and cheap alternative? I figure even if the gauge reads high or low, as long as it is functional and not pinned full on or off I can get an idea of where the "safe" range is. After all there aren't any temp. numbers on it.
Anyone tried this Guage with a drain plug sender or anything else? Just curious.

Thanks,
Mike

I would just use the taco sensor... you have to have something mounted there anyways to keep the oil from comming out?

seals are cheap if that is the issue..

Taco plates are not that plentiful or cheap. No to mention they have a tendency to leak and there is a reason they're called "taco" if not perfectly torqued.
I would need the taco plate, cover and sender. That's around $100 right? Not to mention draining all my oil (which I just changed with the good stuff). No thanks.
Any other options?

$35-$75 negot. w/ everything seals bolts sender cover and plate, no taco sauce.. needs paper gasket maybe.. looks good cond.

Sorry, I do not know if there is another super cheap way, maybe the dipstick temp. thngys i see time to time..

You do not have to toss your new oil, catch it clean, put it back in??
$75 negot.?
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1087476

I know this guy, his name is Allen, he will have the whole enchilada if you ask, restored cond. $35
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Porsche-914...sQ5fAccessories

i origanly had a hard line heat/pressure sensative "bulb" type that screwed into to drain plug. it hung down spooky low, just waiting for anything to grab

Nice find, but how do I know if this one isn't already tweaked and will leak? From past threads I've read, these things will leak if they are a hair off.
Am I too skeptical or should I be leary about a used part from a stranger that holds the lifeblood of my engine?
But seriously...NICE FIND!

Here is the $13 answer.. found what I said VDO DIPSTICK SENDER..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/RARE-VDO-Oi...sQ5fAccessories

Click to view attachment

Seriously they are easy to instal if your patient and do not over tight the 2 little bolts, they just have to crush the tiny winy copper seals that is it done.. people will straight strip the &$&^% threads like its holding back the prssure of niagara falls.. ask me how I know, then thank the po. of my 914.. fixed it though go to go..

So much for $13 answer, check the shipping on that first..$19 shipping /.

Thanks Detox, you're a wealth of info.
Have you or anyone else tried that sender and verified the results with the combo gauge?

No I am a pureist, but it is vdo and recomend's vdo gauge, it has a value of 150celcius which translates to 302 farenhiet.. the redline on either (early or later version) temp sender form the combo gauge begins at 156.7 degrees Celsius..


this from the seller of the dip stick, quote ""made in germany max 150o.C VDO 6-24V" so your never going to reach redline but get pretty close

more on the combo gauge, http://www.p914.com/p914_gauges_combo.htm

Here is another one, maybe they will sell it to you without the gauge..

plus you can ask them questions while deleting the gauge from the sale..

appear to be 150c/300deg. temp range again..

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1081580

Click to view attachment

2 more w/ links

Oil Drain Plug Sender (may need some retro fit for type4 and appears to be stamped 150c temp range)

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=541894
Click to view attachment

And and interesting combo that appears to retain your pressure sensor but add the temp sender?? ask alot of question, included thread size.. m10x1.0 for that location
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1076158
Click to view attachment


that's it,, good luck and good night!

basically from what i take is that if you using a vdo temp gauge then the vdo senders are go to go, but if using a porsch temp gauge then need porsche sender.. to be "accurate" but as your first listed you jsut want a read on it so you could crossover (use the combo of vdo sender any of the above w/ the porsche gauge)) now that you know your sending unit limits and your gauges scale.. if you peg the sending unit at 150c. your probably wanting to be alerted that your damn near the red warning anyways.. plus tyhe placement of sender (taco plate is poor and though it cools accurately it raises in temp like a heat sink and what you read on the porsche gauge is really behing the actual temp. if your temp is climbing and not leveled out.. factory temp. sender with factory gauge is slow to rise to actual temp. and quick to cool to actual temp.. FYI

they all just dummy gauges "eye" candy anyways but what you want to be aware of is the spikes and abnormalities..

go for it, whatever you want to do, when you tire of it , or come ino more cash.. you can always switch back or whatever.

just ask that if you sell it, tell the next guy what you did, cuz it sucks finding out otherwise when you the new owner..

Final note; anyone whom has vdo gauges, factory or not oil or cht ect should read this link on what your really seeing at the needle on on the gauge..

make sense... but helps you read the dummy gauge like a pro dummy

http://www.ratwell.com/technical/VDOGauges.html

I think the clocks are pretty accurate though.. analog

missed the obvious fit for the drain plug..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/VDO-oil-Tem...=item43a458ed28
Click to view attachment

Thanks again Detox.

I did a little more research on the drain plugs. All the plugs you linked are for M14 x 1.5 size/pitch. I found out Type IV uses a M12 x 1.5.

They make a sender (part #323-092) that has the M12x1.5 and looks identical to your pics. The info on the temp rating is 300deg. I did not know what temp values were needed for my gauge, so thanks again for your help.
Looks like 20-30 bucks and some wiring and I'm good!

The drain plug sender will read lower than reality because it's out in the airflow and being cooled off. Just mentally compensate.

I'm just going to say that I bought two of those drain plug senders, and neither of them actually fit the drain pug threads on my case. They did fit the taco plate threads. I am currently using one in my taco plate off a different engine.

For what its worth, my case was a bus case, so the drain plug may be different, but I doubt it.

Zach