I would like to fit an oil temp. gauge to monitor my new motor. Is there any other way of mounting the sensor of a mechanical gauge other than tapping it into the sump? How does an electric gauge operate on a CA18DET motor?
Thanks matty

On some engines, the sump plug is on the side & this hole has been used to fit the sender unit, but most drain plugs are on the bottom, so the only real alternative is to pull the oil pan & braze in a fitting low on the side that will take the sender. Removing the pan can be a pain in some cars, but this way you can be sure that the whole thing won't go up in flames & you can clean & paint the brazed area when finished.

This seems to be the most common way of doing it.

ive been thinking of ways to attach an oil sender for when my oil temp guage eventually arrives in the mail.. google.com has showed me a few people who've used a sandwich plate (drilled through eg no oil cooler attached) and drilled/threaded a hole into the side of the adapter to plonk in the oil temp sender unit. (both normal holes on the sandwich plate blocked off)

you could probably also get a T junction piece in place of the oil pressure sender plug.

id say the best spot for (as close as) correct temp reading is the sump.

edit:

i got the guages and have since installed them. the temp guages are a bit fishy at the moment still testing them, but the oil temp guage came with as 4 junction to plug onto the side of the engine. so now i can have oil temp sender, oil pressure sender and even the stock idiot light! it leaked until i used nylon thread around all the connections, except the connection to the engine itself.


edit:
ive since installed an oil cooler kit and sandwich adapter. i had the oil temp sender put into the sandwich adapter so i get an oil temp reading as soon as it leaves the engine. with the 4 junction plug i can also plug an oil pressure sender and also the stock datsun1200 idiot oil light!