Back of a 5.0 intake for temp sending unit? Bad idea

oldfox · Jul 23, 2011

I have heard that the back of the intake will show a lower temperature than the front. So I tried it to see. Bad idea
Seems that the fluid for the cooling of the engine is only about 1/2 way through the engine and hasn't picked up the heat yet.
I switched the sending unit back and forth just to see
Hissin50 you were right and I was wrong (hate when that happens)

190 in the front = 175 in the rear on a steady highway cruise

Rick 91GT · Jul 24, 2011

Very true, I usually move the stock sender to the rear so the dash is functional and move the aftermarket to the front.

jrichker · Jul 24, 2011

Alternate placement for a temp gauge sender:

Revised 24 July 2011 to add better temp sender location description and the necessity to loop the fluid flow through the heater circuit.

How it works:
If you want any kind of operation similar to stock, the ECT/heater feed line is the best place for a temp sender or fan thermo sensor. After all, the computer uses the ECT to pick up data on how warm the engine is. Putting the temp sender in the same line as the ECT is a simple way to get the best possible accuracy at minimum cost and complication.

Some things to keep in mind:
Just be sure that you haven’t blocked the coolant return because of a leaky heater core. For this to work correctly, the coolant needs to flow from the ECT sensor tubing back to the water pump. That means a leaky heater circuit gets looped rather than just plugged up. Join the rubber hoses together with a hose splice from Home Depot rather than plug them up.

Where to put it:
Use the heater feed that comes off the intake manifold that has the ECT sensor in it. Cut the rubber hose that connects the manifold water feed to the heater and splice in a tee adapter for the temp gauge sender. That way you will get the most accurate temp readings since the coolant is always flowing through the heater circuit in a stock car.

Tee adapter info:
Make a pilgrimage to your local hardware or home supply center and get some copper pipe and a tee that fits the temp gauge sender. Solder two pieces of copper pipe onto a copper pipe tee with threads in the tee part. Find the correct brass fitting to match the temp sender threads to the tee fitting.

skunk21 · Jul 24, 2011

Rick 91GT said:
Very true, I usually move the stock sender to the rear so the dash is functional and move the aftermarket to the front.

This what I did. but correct using the front is the way to go.

Mustang5L5 · Jul 24, 2011

Rick 91GT said:
Very true, I usually move the stock sender to the rear so the dash is functional and move the aftermarket to the front.

I did the same, and noticed as well the rear reads slightly cooler

The Shape · Jul 24, 2011

I moved my stock sender to the rear of the intake like mentioned above. That way I didn't have a dead gauge on the dash. The stock temp gauge isn't really very accurate anyway, but it did seem to read cooler back there.

jrichker · Jul 24, 2011

With both the current 89 LX 5.0 I have and its predecessor, an 89 GT, the temp indicator stayed around "L-A" on the word NORMAL. If repositioning the sender to the passenger side rear location on the intake manifold caused it to run cooler, it might not even make it up to "L".

If you wanted any kind of operation similar to stock, the ECT/heater feed line is the best place for a temp sender. After all, the computer uses the ECT to pick up data on how warm the engine is. Putting the temp sender in the same line as the ECT is a simple way to get the best possible accuracy at minimum cost and complication.

oldfox · Jul 24, 2011

I had drilled and taped two holes in the rear of the intake.
As it turned out I used both of them one for the stock gauge just so i didn't have a dead gauge and with the set up I have now I needed to use the other one for the heater. I hope that I pick up enough heat to keep it warm this fall. But i dont plan on running it in the winter.

f8tlfiveo · Jul 24, 2011

Using the rear port with stock sender would give the computer inaccurate temp numbers.. Prob not the best idea..

HISSIN50 · Jul 24, 2011

jeepguy00 said:
Using the rear port with stock sender would give the computer inaccurate temp numbers.. Prob not the best idea..

The EEC does not use the temp gauge sender.

The EEC uses the ECT (a sensor).

f8tlfiveo · Jul 24, 2011

Where is that sensor located?

jrichker · Jul 24, 2011

The ECT sensor is located in the front of the passenger side lower intake manifold. It normally mounts in the heater feed tubing fitting that is part of the lower intake.

f8tlfiveo · Jul 25, 2011

ok after i read the last post i thought i remembered seeing a sensor on that side. so the one on the front drivers side is just for the gauge then.

f8tlfiveo · Jul 25, 2011

If you wanted any kind of operation similar to stock said:
wow... i must have missed this before i posted..my fault ..

Back of a 5.0 intake for temp sending unit? Bad idea

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