I'm working on installing three aftermarket gauges in my truck: vacuum, transmission temperature, and oil temperature. I've got my gauges mounted on the pillar. Lighting is connected, and all wires are run. Vacuum gauge is hooked up and working great. But, I don't know where to install the temperature senders. The truck is a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 with the 318 (Magnum 5.2).

The first sender is transmission temperature. I have an adapter that I can use to splice directly into one of the lines going to the tranny cooler. But I'm not sure which one to use. I have a cooler integrated in the radiator, and I also have a dedicated transmission cooler (which came with the truck from the factory). I want to splice into the line coming directly out of the transmission (before the fluid goes to the coolers), so I get the most accurate temperature reading. Does anybody know which line to splice into?

The other sender is oil temperature. I was planning on teeing into where the stock oil pressure sender is. But, I cannot figure out where it is, and the Haynes manual is no help. Where is the oil pressure sending unit? Or is there another available port somewhere else on the engine that would give me access to the engine oil?

Thanks in advance.

 

Typically, the line that goes into the bottom of the radiator is the pressure line. The line coming out of the top is the return line. The return line should then go to the aux trans cooler, and then back to the trans. Put your T in the pressure line.

 

You might be right, but for some reason I dont remember it being that way.

 

That's how it was on mine. I'm sure there could be year to year differences, but that is the most common way i've seen it.

 

Thanks for that info. Any ideas where I can install the oil temperature gauge? I really don't want to drop the oil pan.

 

For the transmission temp gauge, I spliced into the line going into the bottom of the radiator using a T. For the oil temp gauge, I had a hole drilled and tapped in the center of the drain plug.

 

I second the oil drain plug as an option. You wil lfind the oil pressure sending unit on the back side of the engine to the left of the distributor as you are laying on the engine. I had my temp unit installed there and it did not provide correct readings. I had used some T fittings and it was a real PITA to install and un-install. I relocated it to the oil pan and all was good in the world.

 

my 01 was like this. also in the pressure line was the check valve. about 1" hex head and about 1" long at the end of the hard pipe.

to be positive, remove one of the hoses, point it into a bucket and start the truck.

 

thats how mine was. bottom was the in, and the top line was the out.

 

The installation into the transmission pressure line was really easy. Autometer makes this part:

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...p;autoview=sku

You simply splice into the hard line coming from the transmission. This manifold clamps on with compression fittings. Couldn't have been easier.