Tapping oil filter housing for sensor

[beeRS]

I need to drill & tap into my oil filter housing to fit a combined oil temperature/pressure sensor. There is already single port there, but I am using that for the turbo oil feed. I know I could just tee into the same port, but a separate port would make a neater installation.

The oil filter housing is a cast aluminium part with two internal chambers - one chamber is the oil inlet pathway to the oil filter, and the other is the outlet.

My question is, does it matter whether I drill into the inlet pathway or the outlet? Does it even make any difference?

[Graham]

it will make very little difference although i would drill into the output side as that's more representative of what the engine sees

[beeRS]

it will make very little difference although i would drill into the output side as that's more representative of what the engine sees

Thanks Graham! Unfortunately, I only have space on the inlet side to drill. Maybe I'd be better off to put the turbo oil feed on the inlet side of the oil filter housing and put the sensor on the outlet side?

[katana]

Please don't - filtered oil is a turbo's lifeblood.

[beeRS]

Good point! I do have an fine mesh prefilter in the AN4 line to the turbo. Would that do?

[katana]

Good point! I do have an fine mesh prefilter in the AN4 line to the turbo. Would that do?

IMO - No! Ask yourself could anything that you wouldn't want in your main engine bearings get through - if its a maybe then definitely not suitable.
Turbo bearings are more hi speed, smaller tolerance and least resistant to any oil contamination! Personally I'd put the gauge on a tee after the filter -
if the tip is in the oil flow, the temp reading should be accurate enough, pressure will apply wherever the sensor is placed.

[beeRS]

IMO - No! Ask yourself could anything that you wouldn't want in your main engine bearings get through - if its a maybe then definitely not suitable.
Turbo bearings are more hi speed, smaller tolerance and least resistant to any oil contamination! Personally I'd put the gauge on a tee after the filter -
if the tip is in the oil flow, the temp reading should be accurate enough, pressure will apply wherever the sensor is placed.

You're right, probably not worth the risk. I'll stick with the tee I think. It just looks a little messy with all the fittings, but I can't compromise reliability. Thanks for your help.

[stevieturbo]

IMO - No! Ask yourself could anything that you wouldn't want in your main engine bearings get through - if its a maybe then definitely not suitable.
Turbo bearings are more hi speed, smaller tolerance and least resistant to any oil contamination! Personally I'd put the gauge on a tee after the filter -
if the tip is in the oil flow, the temp reading should be accurate enough, pressure will apply wherever the sensor is placed.

But do not place the sensor in such a manner as it will obstruct the oil flow. Some temp sensors can have quite large tips.