Sorry forgot to include all in my response.  On a positive note the oil
weeping from the fittings connecting the oil pressure sender has stopped.
As recommended I used automotive thread sealer.

I am thankful for all the small wins.

BT

On Thursday, June 24, 2021, Bruce Todd <beeceetee@gmail.com> wrote:

> Doesn’t appear I can do those things.  Gauge wire not connected to sensor
> - temp spikes.  Grounding the sensor wire and gauge falls to 0.
>
> Faulty gauge perhaps?
>
> BT
>
> On Thursday, June 24, 2021, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Take another look that you do not have one of the gauge wires swapped.
>> Generally these gauges use reverse temp coefficient sensors, resistance
>> goes down as temp goes up. Not connected to the sensor, powered on the
>> gauge needle should not move. Ground the sensor wire and it should peg. If
>> you can't do those 2 steps the sensor and added ground will not help. If
>> the engine is grounded enough to let the starter start it and the
>> alternator charge the battery the gauge should work.
>>
>> Dennis
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> On Behalf Of
>> Bruce Todd
>> Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2021 11:56 AM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Re: Oil Temp Sender and Gauge
>>
>> I think I might have an answer - I will try grounding the sender on the
>> body of the sender - and not directly where the sender wire is also
>> attached.
>>
>> BT
>>
>> On Thu, Jun 24, 2021 at 8:53 AM Bruce Todd <beeceetee@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> >
>> > So - I am having some issues getting an aftermarket digital oil temp
>> > gauge to work.
>> >
>> > The sender connects to a threaded adaptor that replaces the oil relief
>> > plug - which I imagine many of you folks likely have in place on your
>> > beloved vans.  First question - if this is your set up, have you had
>> > to ground the sender since the bottom of the block is aluminum?  When
>> > I jumper a ground to the sender the gauge reads -18C which equates to
>> > 0 Fahrenheit...(I opted for Celcius over Fahrenheit).  Without the
>> > jumper to the ground, the gauge reads full scale - 181C or 300 F.
>> > Note - This is just with the ignition on without any temp being
>> generated from the motor.
>> >
>> > When I run the motor with the sender jumped to ground and the sender
>> > wire attached to the gauge the gauge just stays on -18C and there is
>> > no fluctuation - so somewhere in this equation the resistance isn't
>> > dropping as the oil temp rises....which is how I believe things work
>> > with temp gauges.
>> >
>> > If I drive the van without the sender grounded - the gauge at full
>> > scale
>> > (181C)  begins to slowly decrease as the motor warms up - but
>> > continues to drop until it reaches -18C and then stays there - it
>> > doesn't set on a temperature.
>> >
>> > This gauge is from Intellitronix (M9108) and came with a sender.  I
>> > had originally installed a GW sender but then exchanged that earlier
>> > this week thinking it might be the issue as it may not be matched
>> > correctly with the gauge.
>> >
>> > When looking at GW (as a resource) they don't seem to mention
>> > grounding the sender - nor did the instructions I received for the
>> > gauge and sender - however I imagine they typically sell these units
>> > to vehicles that don't have an aluminum cases and the sender grounds
>> directly to the motor.
>> >
>> > Any thoughts appreciated as I am running out of ideas here.
>> >
>> >
>> > Bruce
>> >
>>
>