Matz
01-08-2006, 10:37 PM
This how to will be in flux, as I figure out what pieces are needed to create a good coolant sensor adapter.
In summary, when adding a coolant sensor to your car, you'll want to get the most accurate temperature available. GReddy actually sells a 36mm sensor adapter that installs in-line with one of the radiator hoses, as shown below from MarkSAE's car:
http://www.norcalevo.net/gallery/albums/album385/DSC06634.sized.jpg
42 Draft Designs just released a thermostat housing replacement that has a bung welded in for easy sensor installation:
http://www.42draftdesigns.com/images/evo/watertemp2.jpg
The problem with both approaches is that the sensors are placed downstream of the thermostat. In the event of a failure, if the thermostat fails closed, no coolant will reach the sensor, and you won't be able to get an accurate measurement.
So what do you do? As MarkSAE pointed out on evom, you'd have to install the sensor before the thermostat, so you'd have to tap into the hose marked by #10718 in the following image:
http://forums.evolutionm.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=81605&stc=1
Big thanks to WarmPepsi on evom, who came up with his own home-brew coolant adapter, which looks very nice for mixing and matching hardware store parts. His looks like this:
http://forums.evolutionm.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=81458
Unfortunately, he didn't have a parts list available, so I decided today that I'd just go to Orchard Supply Hardware and pick out whatever I could find that makes sense. Here's what I came up with so far:
Parts list:
- (1) 1/4" NPT brass tee
- (2) 3/8" barb x 1/4" NPT brass fittings
- (1) 1/4" NPT to 1/8" NPT brass reducer
- (1) 1/4" NPT brass elbow (possibly optional)
- teflon tape
- (2) hose clamps, currently unspecified
These are the images of the parts I got from OSH, shown in bags so you can find the same pieces more easily:
1/4" NPT brass tee:
http://www.initialdproject.com/evo8/HowToMakeCoolantAdapter/t_bagged.jpg
3/8" barb x 1/4" NPT brass fitting:
http://www.initialdproject.com/evo8/HowToMakeCoolantAdapter/barbed_fitting_bagged.jpg
1/4" NPT to 1/8" NPT brass reducer:
http://www.initialdproject.com/evo8/HowToMakeCoolantAdapter/reducer_bagged.jpg
1/4" NPT brass elbow (optional)
http://www.initialdproject.com/evo8/HowToMakeCoolantAdapter/elbow_bagged.jpg
Here are the pieces out of their bags:
http://www.initialdproject.com/evo8/HowToMakeCoolantAdapter/t.jpg
http://www.initialdproject.com/evo8/HowToMakeCoolantAdapter/barbed_fitting.jpg
http://www.initialdproject.com/evo8/HowToMakeCoolantAdapter/reducer.jpg
http://www.initialdproject.com/evo8/HowToMakeCoolantAdapter/elbow.jpg
and here's the GReddy temp sensor:
http://www.initialdproject.com/evo8/HowToMakeCoolantAdapter/sensor.jpg
Ok, now on to the assembly:
Step 1: screw reducer into one end of tee
http://www.initialdproject.com/evo8/HowToMakeCoolantAdapter/step1.jpg
Step 2: screw sensor into reducer
http://www.initialdproject.com/evo8/HowToMakeCoolantAdapter/step2.jpg
The sensor needs to go into the end so that it'll be in full contact with the coolant:
http://www.initialdproject.com/evo8/HowToMakeCoolantAdapter/sensor_view.jpg
Step 3: screw barbed fitting into opposite end of tee
http://www.initialdproject.com/evo8/HowToMakeCoolantAdapter/step3.jpg
Step 4: screw other barbed fitting into elbow
http://www.initialdproject.com/evo8/HowToMakeCoolantAdapter/step4.jpg
Final step: screw elbow into tee
http://www.initialdproject.com/evo8/HowToMakeCoolantAdapter/final_assembly.jpg
I think the elbow will end up being optional, so you can probably just screw the barbed fitting into the last opening in the tee. It would then look like this:
http://www.initialdproject.com/evo8/HowToMakeCoolantAdapter/final_assembly2.jpg
You should probably use teflon tape on all threads, just in case.
Because the barbed fittings are a bit long, I'm thinking about taking off a couple of barbs on the lathe, and then machining the two barbs closest to the NPT thread flat, just leaving one barb. I figure that I'll want to use hose clamps anyway.
FYI, I haven't actually installed this piece yet. It's a bit bulky, and I wanted to get everyone's feedback (especially WarmPepsi's) about my instructions. Please post any questions or comments on this.
In summary, when adding a coolant sensor to your car, you'll want to get the most accurate temperature available. GReddy actually sells a 36mm sensor adapter that installs in-line with one of the radiator hoses, as shown below from MarkSAE's car:
http://www.norcalevo.net/gallery/albums/album385/DSC06634.sized.jpg
42 Draft Designs just released a thermostat housing replacement that has a bung welded in for easy sensor installation:
http://www.42draftdesigns.com/images/evo/watertemp2.jpg
The problem with both approaches is that the sensors are placed downstream of the thermostat. In the event of a failure, if the thermostat fails closed, no coolant will reach the sensor, and you won't be able to get an accurate measurement.
So what do you do? As MarkSAE pointed out on evom, you'd have to install the sensor before the thermostat, so you'd have to tap into the hose marked by #10718 in the following image:
http://forums.evolutionm.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=81605&stc=1
Big thanks to WarmPepsi on evom, who came up with his own home-brew coolant adapter, which looks very nice for mixing and matching hardware store parts. His looks like this:
http://forums.evolutionm.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=81458
Unfortunately, he didn't have a parts list available, so I decided today that I'd just go to Orchard Supply Hardware and pick out whatever I could find that makes sense. Here's what I came up with so far:
Parts list:
- (1) 1/4" NPT brass tee
- (2) 3/8" barb x 1/4" NPT brass fittings
- (1) 1/4" NPT to 1/8" NPT brass reducer
- (1) 1/4" NPT brass elbow (possibly optional)
- teflon tape
- (2) hose clamps, currently unspecified
These are the images of the parts I got from OSH, shown in bags so you can find the same pieces more easily:
1/4" NPT brass tee:
http://www.initialdproject.com/evo8/HowToMakeCoolantAdapter/t_bagged.jpg
3/8" barb x 1/4" NPT brass fitting:
http://www.initialdproject.com/evo8/HowToMakeCoolantAdapter/barbed_fitting_bagged.jpg
1/4" NPT to 1/8" NPT brass reducer:
http://www.initialdproject.com/evo8/HowToMakeCoolantAdapter/reducer_bagged.jpg
1/4" NPT brass elbow (optional)
http://www.initialdproject.com/evo8/HowToMakeCoolantAdapter/elbow_bagged.jpg
Here are the pieces out of their bags:
http://www.initialdproject.com/evo8/HowToMakeCoolantAdapter/t.jpg
http://www.initialdproject.com/evo8/HowToMakeCoolantAdapter/barbed_fitting.jpg
http://www.initialdproject.com/evo8/HowToMakeCoolantAdapter/reducer.jpg
http://www.initialdproject.com/evo8/HowToMakeCoolantAdapter/elbow.jpg
and here's the GReddy temp sensor:
http://www.initialdproject.com/evo8/HowToMakeCoolantAdapter/sensor.jpg
Ok, now on to the assembly:
Step 1: screw reducer into one end of tee
http://www.initialdproject.com/evo8/HowToMakeCoolantAdapter/step1.jpg
Step 2: screw sensor into reducer
http://www.initialdproject.com/evo8/HowToMakeCoolantAdapter/step2.jpg
The sensor needs to go into the end so that it'll be in full contact with the coolant:
http://www.initialdproject.com/evo8/HowToMakeCoolantAdapter/sensor_view.jpg
Step 3: screw barbed fitting into opposite end of tee
http://www.initialdproject.com/evo8/HowToMakeCoolantAdapter/step3.jpg
Step 4: screw other barbed fitting into elbow
http://www.initialdproject.com/evo8/HowToMakeCoolantAdapter/step4.jpg
Final step: screw elbow into tee
http://www.initialdproject.com/evo8/HowToMakeCoolantAdapter/final_assembly.jpg
I think the elbow will end up being optional, so you can probably just screw the barbed fitting into the last opening in the tee. It would then look like this:
http://www.initialdproject.com/evo8/HowToMakeCoolantAdapter/final_assembly2.jpg
You should probably use teflon tape on all threads, just in case.
Because the barbed fittings are a bit long, I'm thinking about taking off a couple of barbs on the lathe, and then machining the two barbs closest to the NPT thread flat, just leaving one barb. I figure that I'll want to use hose clamps anyway.
FYI, I haven't actually installed this piece yet. It's a bit bulky, and I wanted to get everyone's feedback (especially WarmPepsi's) about my instructions. Please post any questions or comments on this.