Heater Hose Restriction for Temp Sender

[thomas m]

Non-Turbo, 1.6 Diesel; hydraulic lifters; 300,000 miles, minor oil consumption; working stock temp gauge.

I'd like to put an auxiliary temp gauge sender in my heater hose using an in-line aluminum hose adapter into which the sender is inserted. The adapter slightly reduces the flow diameter. The sender also reduces the cross section of the flow cross section.

I'm guessing that the cross sectional area is reduced about 30-40 percent compared to the stock hose. That seems like a lot to me. However, a lot of people use these adapters and probably have no issues with overheating. However, it might adversely affect the coolant flow??

Is there any other place that the temp sender could be installed???

I'm a conservative driver and only expect higher temps when going over mountain passes.

Any comments would be appreciated. Is anyone using

[RunninWild]

Do you have the metal coolant flanges coming out of the head or plastic ones? If they are metal you could always drill/tap them for the size sender you want to use. That wouldn't affect flow at all and would probably be the easiest. I have the older metal style and I have a sender on each flange on both sides of the head.

[vanbcguy]

The feed to the heater core is a perfect place to put that sort of thing. It definitely won't affect cooling of the engine at all, though it may very slightly reduce heat output in the cabin. I doubt you'll notice one way or the other.

This is of course moot if you are running a Mk1 which I believe controls temperature in the cabin by controlling flow, unlike the mk2+ which controls airflow rather than coolant.

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[ORCoaster]

Non-Turbo, 1.6 Diesel; hydraulic lifters

Doesn't sound like MK1 to me.

Or did they do Hydro lifters in 1982? 

[vanbcguy]

No idea. But as we all know just about anything can be under the hood of an older car. Heck my '93 Jetta has had 3 different engine types under the hood that I know about alone.

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[ORCoaster]

yeah, you have to really think about the facts, 1. these are 30 plus year old cars, 2. you can still work on them, 3. they have compatibility between parts and different engine types, 4. plenty of us have the ability to mix those pieces and parts between acceptable flanges and bolt holes. 

I think I have an 81 engine with 82-90 additions. 

[thomas m]

It's a 1991 MK2 (pretty sure) I am the original, one-and-only owner. Car was purchased new in Portland, Or.
All parts are original, except for normal wear out. i.e., original alternator(new regulator), new water pump, coolant hoses, heater core.
The injector pump and injectors were rebuilt by Fuel Injection Service in Portland, Or.
The engine has never been pulled, so original clutch too. Minimal smoke and oil consumption.

I'm still looking for a reliable rebuilder in the Portland, Or area.....just planning, no need yet.

[ORCoaster]

Dang it, 

I lived in Portland for a couple of years about two years ago.  I knew of a good mechanic and now I can't for the life of me remember his name.  I think others on this forum also still are located in Portland (Keep it Weird) and may kick in a name or do you a PM to keep from advertising them. 

I had an intake problem as the injector boss did the infamous split when I was removing them.  The guy was out in my neighborhood looking at another Craigslist special and dropped by to assess the problem.  He gave me a run down on how he would fix it and what it would cost.  And told me to run it first and look into getting a new intake.  I just needed it to run long enough to get downstate to the spare in the shed.  Made it no problem.  But I was pretty impressed with his visit, price and knowledge. 

Some other Portlanders out there?   Speak up.