SOHC water temp sensors?

[kinneyb]

OK...I'm changing out parts on my 4.6 SOHC engine. I've got PI heads and new intake to put on. In taking the old intake off I find two water temp sensors on the crossover pipe.



However when I compared that to the new PI intake. I find that there is only a hole on the right side...



the left side has no hole, but a smooth blank spot where the threaded hole was on the old one. Is there another threaded hole in the water jacket that would be suitable to use. My Haynes manual says that one sensor is for the computer and the other one is for the gage.



What now?

Kinney

[Five'nJohn]

Hi Kinney,

As I see it, there are three options.

1) Put the temp sender in the water jacket plug hole behind the driver side motor mount using a suitable adapter (that's where I put my autometer sender on my 01 SOHC motor; think the 96 has the same hole but not sure).

2) Drill and tap the spot near the thermostat housing for the gauge sender.

3) Use a T in the new intake temp sender location to get two mounting holes for the two senders.

HTH,

John

[kinneyb]

Thanks,

I'll check my block for that location, I probably don't have a pipe tap the proper size (whatever it might be).

Kinney

[johno250]

I did #2,it's been spot on on accurate, the lower block position is not the ideal place for a heat sensor,it's one of the last places to heat and first to cool. IMHO.

[jchigley5]

I put mine on the bottom of the block, was fairly easy and works out great. Only "problem" was my son was the one that took the plug out and the engine just happened to be full of water and he just happened to get drenched. Either way sounds fine to me.

Jerry

[johno250]

I’m not trying to bust chops here, quite simply heat rises, so the most likely place to be hottest/first is the crossover , it’s also the most likely place steam to accumulate. That’s why Ford put It there in the first place. In the lower block location you get a reading but I don’t think it will be the most accurate one.

[Cobrabilly]

I had to drill and tap a hole in the rear of drivers side of my Typhoon intake for the second sender.

By leaving the sensor temporarily out, it doubled as a burp hole when I initially filled the motor with coolant.

The burp hole helps a great deal, as did filling it from the T-stat hole. But that's a different subject alltogether.

As an alternative, I believe the '99 later Crown Vics, used a "dry hole" temp sensor screwed into a threaded hole in the inner side of the drivers side head.

Look for them, the holes were there even though both my sensors were the "wet" variety.

You'd have to get a Crown Vic sensor, and maybe adapt the connector to your harness, but if you don't want to drill and tap, this would be an alternative.

Carry on, Bill

[jchigley5]

Well, I would have used the upper location, however; auto meter's instructions specifically said to use the plug that I used. Also, it is running dead on with where it should be. I think these motors are circulating the water fast enough that it doesn't make much of a difference.

Jerry

[johno250]

I respectfully disagree with this, but you are correct
Hopefully the pump is working and the water is flowing without a vacuum break

Water Temp Location and/or Thread Size
for 4.6 engine(s)
Look below the last freeze plug on drivers side (left side) of the block. There will be a threaded in plug (16mm x 1.5). This can be accessed and removed from under the vehicle. For electric gauges use an Auto Meter model #2268 adapter. For mechanical gauges use an Auto Meter #2275 adapter.

[kinneyb]

Thanks for the information folks. Greatly appreciated. the plug size especially Johno250
Kinney