I've got a 3 pod gauge holder enroute along with water temp, oil pressure, and trans temp gauges. Has anyone installed these on a 99> F-250 with the 5.4L? I'd prefer to learn from others mistakes than make my own.

Thanks,

Bob
Mulepick(No Email Addresses In Posts!)
2000 F-250SD X-cab SB 4x4 auto 4.10LS
5.4L off-road and camper packs

 

I installed a two gage pod on my 99 SD. It was super easy, with the hardest part being removing the factory A-pillar cover to route the wires. Once I marked where to mount the pod, I removed the A-pillar cover and drilled the mounting holes. I also drilled a 5/8" hole for the wiring in the middle of the area on the A-pillar. I got the lighting power off of the light switch (so the gages light and dim with the dash lights), and pulled power straight off of the fuse panel. Ground was just to a metal stringer under the dash. Took about 2 hours including routing the gage wires to the appropriate senders. Good luck.

 

Am I to understand that you used the existing sensors/senders (OEM) for your gauges? If so, how do they work and has the computer had any problem with this?

If you used aftermarket sensors/senders, where did you install them?

Bob
Mulepick(No Email Addresses In Posts!)
2000 F-250SD X-cab SB 4x4 auto 4.10LS
5.4L off-road and camper packs

 

I plan on the exact same install for a V-10, so I'm also very interested on locations for the senders. If I find out anything I'll post it here.

Where did you get your guages and A-pillar kit?

 

I just finished crawling under the truck, and this is what I found.

The oil filter mounts to the end of an aluminum manifold that starts at the front of the motor near the power steering pump and runs the length of the motor to the filter. Near the front of the manifold is the stock oil sender. I doesn't look like it would be too hard to 'T' into the stock sender.

The water temperature sender is located directly behind the alternator. I don't know if it would be a good idea to 'T' into this sender, even though it would be easy. I'm wondering if there would be good water flow over the sender? Above the oil filter is a pipe plug in the block, which I assume is a plug for the water jacket. Directly above this plug is the freeze plug with the engine block heater.

If anyone has real world information about locations for senders I'd love to hear it. I ordered my guages and A-pillar kit today.

 

After numerous days of scratching my head about why my trans temp gauge was reading so high, I decided to pull the pillar and rewire. This time I used 16 ga wire and soldered the elec. loops onto the wires before attaching them to the gauges. Repainted the pillar, reinstalled with less connections to cause resistance, and now the trans temp gauge seems to work correctly.

I plugged the sensor into the plug just above the trans pan, drivers side, forward of the shift/electronics module. After reading all the pros/cons about each of the trans cooler lines I decided to take the easy way out. The NPT 27 sensor fits perfectly in the hole. Don't use Teflon tape or anything that might inhibit ground. The threads are dense enough for it not to leak.

Still shopping for places to put the oil pressure and water temp sensors. The oil pressure sensor, while visible, is almost impossible to get at. There is pure frame underneath it so the only attack would be from the top and I'm talking about diving 4' down to get at it.

I, too, think that "T"ing the water sensor would probably cause bad readings on both since both would be out of the stream. I also have been looking at plugs on the sides and rear of the engine trying to decide which are to the water jacket and which are to oil passages. I worry about restricting flow in both cases.

More later.

Bob
Mulepick(No Email Addresses In Posts!)
2000 F-250SD X-cab SB 4x4 auto 4.10LS
5.4L off-road and camper packs

 

It looks like our oil senders are in different places. Does your V8 have the big oil manifold like on my V10? My oil sender is (relatively) easy to get to.

I was staring at the pipe plugs on the engine last night, too, and wondering what was what. If it's like older engines I've messed with the plugs on the side of the block are water plugs, and the ones on the rear are oil gallery plugs. I doubt if using these locations would restrict flow. My concern about using one of the oil plugs is that the sender might be at the end of the oil circuit, and read low. But then again, I think that's where GM puts their senders. Hmmmmm.

I looked on the internet last night for cutaway drawings of our engines that might show the water and oil galleries, but no such luck.

I ordered a B&M remote transmission filter kit. It has a fitting for a sender on it. I'm gonna plumb it in before the coolers and see how that works. If that doesn't work I'll use the location on the transmission that you did.

 

>It looks like our oil senders
>are in different places.
>Does your V8 have the
>big oil manifold like on
>my V10?

I see the manifold structure you're refering to. Perhaps our engines line up to the frame differently due to your extra two cylinders. I can't get at the sensor from the rear due to an engine mount, front due to frame and oil cooler hoses, bottom due to enormous honking frame member and even the top is tough because my sensor lies right under a coolant hose attach point.

>If it's
>like older engines I've messed
>with the plugs on the
>side of the block are
>water plugs, and the ones
>on the rear are oil
>gallery plugs.

That's interesting as there is a plug high on the rear of the engine that looks like one of the adapters I have would fit it. It's especially attractive because I can see some red sealant around the plug like exists at the coolant sensor.

>I looked on the internet last
>night for cutaway drawings of
>our engines that might show
>the water and oil galleries,
>but no such luck.

That doesn't surprise me. Even the Ford tech manual's best pictures are exploded drawings as viewed from 15 feet. I can't find a good manual anywhere for this engne/vehicle. My 5.4 looks nothing like my Dad's in his Expedition. The filter, throttle body location and coolant structures are identical to the V-10. I even counted the "coil on tops" a few times to make sure I didn't get a couple of extra cylinders by mistake.

I'm going to try the plug below the left rear freeze plug this weekend for the coolant temp sensor. I'll keep you posted.

Bob
Mulepick(No Email Addresses In Posts!)
2000 F-250SD X-cab SB 4x4 auto 4.10LS
5.4L off-road and camper packs

 

I guess the extra length of my V10 made my oil sender easier to get to. It's forward of that huge crossmember.

My guages should be here this week. I might try to install them over the weekend if time permits, or at least the senders. I might loosen a plug or two and see what dribbles out.

I'll keep you informed. Good luck!

 

As suspected, the plug under the rear freeze plug, driver's side is to the water jacket. The sensor fits fine after first screwing it into the small adapter provided by the gauge manufacturer. Seems to work fine too. Water temp consistantly stayed at 195-200 during the test drive. I believe I have a 190 t-stat and I won't see major fluctuations since the sensor is so far back in the jacket. A location closer to the t-stat would allow one to observe the t-stat open and close. Oh, well, just have to skip that little piece of joy.

Later on the oil pressure.



Bob
Mulepick(No Email Addresses In Posts!)
2000 F-250SD X-cab SB 4x4 auto 4.10LS
5.4L off-road and camper packs

 

Congratulations. 2 down, 1 to go. You're almost done, and I haven't received my stuff yet. I'd better get on the ball.

 

Sorry for not getting back sooner. I got my gages from Banks (the guys that make the Diesel turbo packages and what not). They were $38 each, and the A-pillar pod was $40. The gages came with sending units and adapters. I put my trans temp in the main pump pressure tap plug, located on the left side of the trans. It was a simple 1/8" NPT hole and required no adaptors. Indeed, DO NOT use teflon tape or any type of sealant. The other gage I got was an engine oil temp. I trust the factory water gage, and was simply curios to see what the engine oil vs. water temp range was. Anyhow, I have yet to find a suitable place to install the oil sending unit. Banks recommends running a tap through the oil pan drain plug and putting the sending unit there. However, that would require removing the wiring every oil change and risks damaging the sending unit (9 out of 10 times I drop the damn plug on the ground as hot oil drains down my arm...). Anyhow, if someone does find a good place to install an oil sender, please post it here. Thanks in advance.

 

>I trust the factory water
>gage...

You don't mention what vehicle you have. The water temp gauge on my '92 Explorer was pretty good and showed temp changes across the board if not numerically. My Y2K F-250 is a different story. Now that the water sensor is hooked up, I notice that the OEM indicator settles in at its "1/3 of the way up" position at about 165 deg. My coolant hit 210 today and the OEM indicator hadn't budged from where it was at 165.

Anyhow, I have
>yet to find a suitable
>place to install the oil
>sending unit.

And I continue to hunt for a place to mount the oil pressure sender. BTW, since the sensor/sender has a hole in it, does it matter if its mounted in the oil or must it be higher up?

(9 out of
>10 times I drop the
>damn plug on the ground
>as hot oil drains down
>my arm...).

Which is why the very first mod I made to the truck was to swap the oil drain plug for one of those little ball valves to drain the oil.

Bob
Mulepick(No Email Addresses In Posts!)
2000 F-250SD X-cab SB 4x4 auto 4.10LS
5.4L off-road and camper packs

 

>Congratulations. 2 down, 1 to
>go. You're almost done,
>and I haven't received my
>stuff yet. I'd better
>get on the ball.
>
Stick a fork in me, I think I'm done.

Pulled the plug on the rear upper side of the engine while cold and just a dribble of oil came out. Exactly what I was hoping for. A plug to a gallery that wasn't submerged all the time. It was a bit tough to get at (and considering the length of the V-10, you may want to stick with teeing off the OEM sensor) but still had enough room for the pressure sender/sensor along with the small adapter.

I haven't been able to confirm the absolute values of what the gauge had to say but it seems to be doing its job in a relative manner. At cold start up its at about 75psi. After warm and at about 70mph on the freeway its about 50-60 and at warm idle is at about 25psi. Fluctuations come when expected I only need to confirm these values and ensure that nothing leaks out of these plugs.

Good luck!

Bob
Mulepick(No Email Addresses In Posts!)
2000 F-250SD X-cab SB 4x4 auto 4.10LS
5.4L off-road and camper packs

 

I'm glad to hear you've got the project in the bag. I received my pod and guages yesterday. Your oil pressures sound very reasonable. I'm gonna see how much room I have on the rear of the motor. I might put my sender there, too, if for no other reason than not disturbing the factory equipment.

I'm taking pictures of the installation process, and I'll be posting them on my website. Thanks for blazing new trails and sharing your experiences.

Now, if I can find some paint for my gray interior...