Oil sender location

cadman2005 · Post by **cadman2005** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 5:49 am

I have just finished wiring my buggy, connecting the last wires up at
the engine.
I went to remove the oil sender to replace it and cannot
seem to find one on the motor.
Not knowing VW engines very well I
looked it up in the shop manual and where the book shows the sender
should be mounted (vertical surface) I find nothing. It seems like the
motor wasn't drilled and taped for a sender. but there is a plug above
on the horizontal surface of the block can this be used? (61 pan and
early 60's motor)
Thanks
Chuck

manxdavid · Post by **manxdavid** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 4:21 pm

You'd best post a photo, not sure which plug you mean but if there's no drilling in the correct place then I doubt it can be used.. Your engine could be built on a Type 3 case. They weren't drilled for a switch (or for a dipstick). They had the oil switch on the oil cooler, sourcing a Type 3 cooler and fitting it may be your best option, it puts the switch around the front of the engine a bit out of the way but it works OK.

MyBlueBuggy · Post by **MyBlueBuggy** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 8:08 pm

In the photo above you can see the oil pressure switch located just to the left and below the distributor. Also, at the bottom of the case to the left of the oil pump you can see a oil temperature sender located where an oil relief valve is.

cadman2005 · Post by **cadman2005** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 10:27 pm

thanks for your help here is a picture

MyBlueBuggy · Post by **MyBlueBuggy** » Sat May 01, 2010 1:29 am

Chuck,

It looks like your case isn't drilled and tapped for an oil sender. That circular boss next to the tin is where it's supposed to be.

cadman2005 · Post by **cadman2005** » Sat May 01, 2010 3:03 am

Tom
Any idea what the plug is foron the top?

jsturtlebuggy · Post by **jsturtlebuggy** » Sat May 01, 2010 3:32 am

The plug on the top was used to mount the oil pressure switch on several years of VW engines. I mostly saw them on the buses from 1968 to 1970.

Go ahead and use it for your sending unit.

Thinking some more that may be a 1/4" NPT plug in the top. If it is you can use a brass pipe bushing to reduce it to 1/8" NPT.

A type III engine case used when used with the cooling fan mounted on the crankshaft neither hole was tapped as oil pressure switch mounted on the oil cooler. This also a possiblity that your case was converted to the upright cooling system.

You could also drill and tap the boss on the side for the sending unit. If you decide to that there are several ways of keeping the shavings from going into the oil galley.

manxdavid · Post by **manxdavid** » Sun May 02, 2010 6:19 pm

Standard size for a Bug oil switch is 10mm x 1mm pitch, close to but not quite 1/8 npt.

10ovr · Post by **10ovr** » Mon May 03, 2010 12:45 am

manxdavid wrote:Standard size for a Bug oil switch is 10mm x 1mm pitch, close to but not quite 1/8 npt.

Hay David,,,,,Cross thread ,,,,Thats what us Americans call Loctite

jsturtlebuggy · Post by **jsturtlebuggy** » Mon May 03, 2010 5:02 am

David,

America will go fully to the metric system about the same time England decides that driving while sitting on the left side is the proper thing to do.

So for now it is easier to fine a American tap verses a metric tap.

You are right but it is so close it works without leaking. There are many American sending units screwed into the VW block that have never had a problem.

cadman2005 · Post by **cadman2005** » Tue May 11, 2010 5:55 am

I was able to install the sender and it works great thanks to all that responded, now if I could only get the car running I would be happy!