I was thinking of installing an electric oil temp gauge. Where would be a good place to put the sensor? Is there any ports available on engine, or any lines to tape into? Thx

On the right side just beneath the ignition generator cover there's the oil pressure
plug which can be used to plug into
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=9162.0

Anybody know where to get the temp sensor that replaces the oil drain bolt?

I have also been thinking about getting a sensor to see know hot it gets during long rides and turnpike sittings.

I was going to put a temp gauge on my bike too. I even bought the gauge, although I was going to use a mechanical one. I was planning on drilling and tapping a hole in the oil pan. The oil pressure port probally wouldn't work too well. If you can find a gauge that fits into the drain plug, that would be easiest, but afer repeted oil changes you could break the wires.

Another Idea I was thinking about, would be to get a candy thermometer and drill a hole in the oil filler cap and put it there. I've seen dipsticks for Harleys and VWs like that but can't find one for the gs. All you would need though is a thermometer of the right length.

I was thinking of useing the line to the oil cooler. Well that was until I looked at the bike and found out they where metal.    I was hoping that they where rubber.  I don't wanna use a temp sensor in the drain plug. I think the best option would be to drill and tap a hole in the oil pan.

Well, for the drain plug you could always use wire connectors.  A candy thermometer would be bad because how would you check it??  I could not imagine looking down while riding at a little gauge.

I guess drain bolt would work as long as there is a comperable fitting for it.

QuoteWell, for the drain plug you could always use wire connectors.

Oh yeah, I can't believe I didn't think about that.  The gauge that I was going to run is a mechanical gauge and you can't cut the line, but that would work great for an electrical sender.

I was thinking the candy thermometer would be just fine, since you wory most about the bike getting too hot while you're at a stop, you can look down after you come to a stop. Once you start moving, the temp should start going down and you can stop worrying about it. (can't do too much about it anyways, except change the oil)

QuoteI was thinking of using the line to the oil cooler

I wouldn't do that, since it could restrict the oil flow. The sump would be easy enough to do and you wouldn't chance dammaging the engine.  It took me less than an hour to take my sump off, make a gasket for it and put it back on, and drilling and tapping it out shouldn't take more than a couple minutes.

I have installed a mechanical temp gauge on my GS few months ago. Actually, there is no fancy trick to install. I put the sensor near a spark plug. No fixation. No drilling, no glue.

I know, what I am measuring is some kind of temperature at the surface of the engine, not actual oil temp. But if you want to see just the temp change of your engine, you do not have to measure the exact oil temp.

My temp gauge shows going up and down between 190 and 250, as GS runs. When I stopped at a traffic light, it pops up. Once hit the road, it goes down immediately. On the highway, it is pretty much stable. Very interesting.

I think it is very speed and air flow dependent. If you are measuring engine surface air temperature you better off measuring at the back of the engine. You might get more stable results there.

QuoteI have installed a mechanical temp gauge on my GS few months ago. Actually, there is no fancy trick to install. I put the sensor near a spark plug. No fixation. No drilling, no glue.

What type of gauge is this and how did you attach it to the head?

All air cooled aircraft engines have a cylinder head temperture gauge on them (CHT) and it's more critical than the oil temp and changes faster too. The only problem is that you can get different readings depending on where and how you mount the sender, and so the readings don't mean too much unless you know where to mount it and what the limits are.

QuoteA candy thermometer would be bad because how would you check it?Huh?  I could not imagine looking down while riding at a little gauge.

when I was riding yesterday, I was looking down at my oil filler and it really wouldn't be hard to read a thermometer mounted there. Especially if you got a large faced one and color coded it (green for normal, yellow caution, and red for danger)

Quote from: HGD00727 on February 21, 2007, 07:58:29 PM
I have installed a mechanical temp gauge on my GS few months ago. Actually, there is no fancy trick to install. I put the sensor near a spark plug. No fixation. No drilling, no glue.

I know, what I am measuring is some kind of temperature at the surface of the engine, not actual oil temp. But if you want to see just the temp change of your engine, you do not have to measure the exact oil temp.

My temp gauge shows going up and down between 190 and 250, as GS runs. When I stopped at a traffic light, it pops up. Once hit the road, it goes down immediately. On the highway, it is pretty much stable. Very interesting.

Are you running Naked? or Faired?



If theres no factory position for the temp gauge how use full could a temp gauge be. by placing the sensor in different areas will give you different temp readings (externally). With out the manual telling you what the temp ranges of that engine are, how are you going to know if its running cool, normal or hot?

Quote from: Blu_Spd_Dmon on February 22, 2007, 03:56:04 PM

Quote from: HGD00727 on February 21, 2007, 07:58:29 PM
I have installed a mechanical temp gauge on my GS few months ago. Actually, there is no fancy trick to install. I put the sensor near a spark plug. No fixation. No drilling, no glue.

I know, what I am measuring is some kind of temperature at the surface of the engine, not actual oil temp. But if you want to see just the temp change of your engine, you do not have to measure the exact oil temp.

My temp gauge shows going up and down between 190 and 250, as GS runs. When I stopped at a traffic light, it pops up. Once hit the road, it goes down immediately. On the highway, it is pretty much stable. Very interesting.

Are you running Naked? or Faired?



If theres no factory position for the temp gauge how use full could a temp gauge be. by placing the sensor in different areas will give you different temp readings (externally). With out the manual telling you what the temp ranges of that engine are, how are you going to know if its running cool, normal or hot? 

Well by riding and seeing the temp every time. I would figure out when it's warm and geeting way to hot. Im worried about being stuck in stop and go traffic when its 120+ degress outside. Also I want oil temp not just a surface reading. Im thinking it would be alot easer to use a large pc fan infront of the oil cooler. Pushing the air into it, even when im at a stop. PC fans already work on 12v. So it would be really easy to do.

QuoteIm thinking it would be alot easer to use a large pc fan infront of the oil cooler. Pushing the air into it, even when im at a stop. PC fans already work on 12v. So it would be really easy to do.

I've thought about using some fans as well, but aiming them at the cylinder head (I don't have an oil cooler) when stuck in traffic for a while. It's just that I don't get suck often enough to be worth the hassle. Cool idea though. 

Quote from: ducati_nolan on February 22, 2007, 05:48:30 PM
I don't get suck often enough

Sorry, guy.

> domas
>If you are measuring engine surface air temperature you better off measuring at the back of the engine. You might get more stable results there.

I placed this sensor at many places of the engine and tried test run. Well, the back side is indeed stable, but it was too stable. I wanted to see more dynamic movement on the gauge. Oil filter cover - wind affected too much. Exhaust pipe inlet - too hot. Easily reached >300. I think the small room next to the spark plug yield the most moderate temp change.

> ducati
> What type of gauge is this and how did you attach it to the head?

It is a cheap water temp gauge you can buy on eBay. I just dropped the sensor on the engine. Please see the last pic.
As you said, this gauge reading is nothing but visualization of non-authentic temp of the engine external.
From the engineering perspective, it is meanless and useless. I guess it is not even accurate.
But it is fun to see "some kind of" temp change indicated by analog gauge on my GS. That is exactly what I wanted.

> Blue
> Are you running Naked? or Faired?

Naked converted 2006.

> Egaeus
> Sorry, guy.

Hi Egaeus, wave at me if you see me in the downtown (I commute via Thomasville and N.Monroe).

That mechanical gauge that you have pictured resting on the head is just like the one I was going to put in my oil pan.