SR Thermostat housing question....

[DrtyRat]

So I've pretty much redone my entire cooling system(Mishimoto radiator & fan shround, silicone hoses, and nismo thermostat), and I'm going to finish installing them tommorow. My concern is my thermostat housing. I have been running w/no thermostat for a long time now. When I originally removed the stock thermo, I also tapped the housing so I could run the probe for my water temp gauge. The problem I have now, is that when I put my nismo thermostat in, and tried to reinstall the housing, I couldn't b/c the probe was hitting the top of the thermo. I finally was able to reinstall the housing, by removing the probe, reattaching the housing and then screwing the probe back in, but I am only able to get a few of the threads to catch, w/o pressing too hard against the thermostat. I was wondering if you guys think that it will be a problem if only a few threads are in, on the probe. Obviously, I'll be using tape to seal the threads, but could the pressure of the system cause it to leak? I think I'm worrying for nothing, but since SR's don't like to overheat, I'd rather be overcautious. BTW, its an S14 SR.

[s14_mike]

I would just be worried about the probe getting caught on something when the thermostat is closing and opening. If it does just pray that the thermostats get stuck open instead of closed. It might just be safer to plug the whole and place your probe somewhere else?

[s14unimog]

I can almost promise you that it will leak. If you have installed the kind of sending unit I think you have, then it will have been an 1/8-27 NPT or metric equivalent . This is obviously a taper seal and will not seal with only a few threads and the pressures at hand. My recommendation to you, is hit up the local parts store and get a 1/8-27 plug, then re-tap your thermostat housing closer to the block; preferably at an angle so that it doesn't disrupt the flow too much. If it does seal, and again if it DOES, you still run the risk of interfering with the thermostat's travel; so why risk it?

just my

[DrtyRat]

Originally Posted by s14unimog

I can almost promise you that it will leak. If you have installed the kind of sending unit I think you have, then it will have been an 1/8-27 NPT or metric equivalent . This is obviously a taper seal and will not seal with only a few threads and the pressures at hand. My recommendation to you, is hit up the local parts store and get a 1/8-27 plug, then re-tap your thermostat housing closer to the block; preferably at an angle so that it doesn't disrupt the flow too much. If it does seal, and again if it DOES, you still run the risk of interfering with the thermostat's travel; so why risk it?

just my

Its an autometer sending unit. I thought about doing the plug, but I don't really want to be w/o my water temp gauge. When I say its hitting the t-stat, it just seems to be resting on the top of the curved portion, but I don't really want to take any chances. As far as being closer to the block, I doubt I could get it any closer than it already is.

[s14unimog]

I'm running an s14 block and thermostat housing with my setup and have the sending unit threaded into the passage from the actual thermostat and the block. I've also drilled mine at an angle so that it doesn't interrupt too much flow. You'll have to take the housing off of course to drill it. If you don't like the plug idea, you could weld it closed... and start over. Look, it may not leak, but its likely too, so if it does, you'll have to redo it anyways, might as well do it over

[fliprayzin240sx]

Just get another water neck so you wont have to worry about it..

[DrtyRat]

My concern really isn't plugging it, bc I know that will take away any concern I have w/leaks, I just don't want to be wihout my temp gauge working(u know the oe one is worthless)

[johngriff]

Carve out a small cylinder of aluminum, drill it then tap it for the sensor.

Drill the neck, then have the bung tig'd to the neck.

You will get the seal you need and the thermo will still pick up the temp.

Just "spacing it away"

[DrtyRat]

I thought u were gonna come in here and make fun of me for no havng the haltech tuned yet Your idea sounds like a good one, I may give that a try.

[garagelu]

Why not just get a replacement and redo it? Those coolant necks should be extremely easy to find.

If not, I would just use some epoxy or some equivalent to secure the sensor if it is not threaded all the way in.

[aNskY]

get a new stat housing and move your sensor to the upper coolant elbow, where it will actually give you a proper reading

[Chrischeezer]

yup...
A fan temp probe should be on/in the upper radiator hose.

[johngriff]

Originally Posted by aNskY

get a new stat housing and move your sensor to the upper coolant elbow, where it will actually give you a proper reading

You would think, but you are only reading the waste water temp, which is the highest possible temp in the engine.

While this seems like a "good" idea, you will be getting readings (especially in turbo applications) that are consistently hotter than your median water temp, or the "temp of water around the sleeve" which is what is your critical measurement.

Measuring the incoming temp is much more effective, b/c you can see a high spike in "INCOMING" coolant, letting you know your radiator is heat soaked and no longer cooling the water coming in.

I have had SR's wrap up 250degrees on the out elbo, while the thermo at incoming was 150, block temp on the intake side with a infa red thermo was 190. The coolant was doing it job, carrying heat away from the engine, but simply looking at that reading is just going to freak you out.

[DrtyRat]

Ok John, you post just confused me. aNsky stated it's better to hAve it on the upper portion(water neck I'm assuming) and your post starts with "you'd think that would be good", which implies that it's the Wrong idea, but then it seems like u say it is better. Which is it? It just seems,to me, that it's more important to I oe the temp after it gone through the block, instead of before. But I could me wrong

[s14unimog]

You are having a really hard time with this... What John said is absolutely correct. The reason why you see a lot of people with their sensors on the upper line is b/c they don't have the means to drill/tap and the only product sold to aid the install is an upper line branch. Besides, Nissan thought it would be a great place to measure the temperature.... So their wrong, lol?

[fliprayzin240sx]

I guess it depends on your outlook of it John. I got mine tapped in the upper neck, if it does even show that Im overheating even when Im not...I'm gonna check it either way. I'd rather be over cautious than not at all. Besides, I got a PFC Commander and thats tapped into the ECU water temp. The difference between the 2 has never been more than 8 degrees of difference.

[DALAZ_68]

get an untapped waterneck...get the small pipe piece from the lower hose of an 89-90 s13...it has a sensor then...if urs threads in awesome...if not just get an adapter...cut ur hose...put in probe upside down, done...

how hard is that?

[DrtyRat]

Originally Posted by s14unimog

You are having a really hard time with this... What John said is absolutely correct. The reason why you see a lot of people with their sensors on the upper line is b/c they don't have the means to drill/tap and the only product sold to aid the install is an upper line branch. Besides, Nissan thought it would be a great place to measure the temperature.... So their wrong, lol?

I understand the consenses is that it should be on the upper line. I'm not questioning that, its just that John's response seem to contradict itself.
Let me show you what I mean:
aNskY:

get a new stat housing and move your sensor to the upper coolant elbow, where it will actually give you a proper reading

I get what he's saying here
John:

You would think, but you are only reading the waste water temp, which is the highest possible temp in the engine.

This implies that he doesn't agree with what aNskY is saying(yes/no?)

Measuring the incoming temp is much more effective, b/c you can see a high spike in "INCOMING" coolant, letting you know your radiator is heat soaked and no longer cooling the water coming in.

Sounds to me like he does agree, now.

I have no real issue moving the probe. I believe that a brass plug, on the t-stat housing will seal just fine, and prevent leaks, bc in all honesty that all the probe is. I guess my next question would be, where would the ideal spot be on the water neck to tap?

[DrtyRat]

Problem solved:
Stance ST7 Water Neck Adapter Nissan SR20DET
I'll be ordering this soon.
Edit: Its amazing what I can find when I search

[aNskY]

Griff meant incoming to the motor, not the rad.. so he was definately disagreeing. I guess Nissan put it over there for a reason, but it seems like youd want to know the temp after it's done it's job, rather than right after it comes out of a huge radiator. anyone else want to chime in?

[landins13]

personally i want to know the temp as its coming out of the engine, i fell that it gives you better idea of how hot the motor itself is running wich is more important than how low the temp is going into the engine. i geuss the ultimate setup would be two guages one reading thetemp as it goes and and ones reading as it goes out so you know how much and how quickly the engine is heating the coolant up

[fromxtor]

Thats what I bought Rat (stance adapter), and the funny part is I'm running a S14 waterneck and the person I bought it from had tapped it for a sensor also.

[Teambadrun]

can you cut the probe? or relocate it on the top radiator hose, so you know what temps the water is coming out of your head...
cheers

[DrtyRat]

Originally Posted by fromxtor

Thats what I bought Rat (stance adapter), and the funny part is I'm running a S14 waterneck and the person I bought it from had tapped it for a sensor also.

Yeah, I tapped the thermostat housing,not the water neck, so I'm just gonna plug it/get another one, and order the stance one.

[DrtyRat]

Originally Posted by aNskY

Griff meant incoming to the motor, not the rad.. so he was definately disagreeing. I guess Nissan put it over there for a reason, but it seems like youd want to know the temp after it's done it's job, rather than right after it comes out of a huge radiator. anyone else want to chime in?

Now I see what he meant. Only had to read it 50x's for it to process

[fromxtor]

I have an extra one if you need it.

[johngriff]

Yeah, I get wordy.....

But usually I have no use for taking the out temp.

"Its running hot because its too lean" - No, I have a haltech

"Its detonating because my timing is crap" No, I have a haltech

"The fuel and timing delivery are messed up because I have an air flow converter (like an afc)" No, I have a haltech.

"I don't trust my engine build because it was installed/put together by a 17y/o without shoes on" No, I built it myself.

You'll get it once you install your haltech (balls busted!)

[s14unimog]

Originally Posted by landins13

personally i want to know the temp as its coming out of the engine, i fell that it gives you better idea of how hot the motor itself is running wich is more important than how low the temp is going into the engine. i geuss the ultimate setup would be two guages one reading thetemp as it goes and and ones reading as it goes out so you know how much and how quickly the engine is heating the coolant up

And I think the general consensus is skewed b/c of the availability of upper line adapters. Again this comes back to my point, what else would someone market, that is fairly easy to install, and could allow the end user to mount his/her sending unit with simple tools and a quick install time. After that your "personal preference" doesn't count for squat. You didn't spend millions on R&D to develop this motor so why change what has been PROVEN. You are correct about one thing. The ultimate setup would be multiple coolant sensors installed in various places on the engine. Which if you'll notice, is what is seen on a lot of cars with high levels of modification (top secret, HKS, etc...)

[aNskY]

and as far as that- im monitoring coolant at the stock location through my pfc, and upper elbow through aem gauge very soon.. i will report my findings

[s14unimog]

yeah that will be interesting. I monitor temp in the same place so my Nistune says what the gauge says.