Cooling fan temp sensor placement

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08Malibu

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Feb 9, 2014
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I was thinking of using the spot I’m pointing to for my electric fan temp sensor. Any thoughts?
 

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melloelky

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Oct 22, 2017
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This is one of those subjects that people go back-and-forth about, It's proximity to the thermostat will be closer to the actual temperature compared to if it was in the cylinder head Where it was originally located when these cars were new. Your cylinder head temperature will be hotter than on the intake. I personally have all the sensors in the heads themselves because I'm a vain douche and don't want to see the wires on top of the motor At the cost of Maybe it's a little cooler than it's actually showing on the gauge.
 
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08Malibu

Royal Smart Person
Feb 9, 2014
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This is one of those subjects that people go back-and-forth about, It's proximity to the thermostat will be closer to the actual temperature compared to if it was in the cylinder head Where it was originally located when these cars were new. Your cylinder head temperature will be hotter than on the intake. I personally have all the sensors in the heads themselves because I'm a vain douche and don't want to see the wires on top of the motor At the cost of Maybe it's a little cooler than it's actually showing on the gauge.
This sensor is for the electric fan. I was thinking of just popping it in the spot on the intake on this engine, for ease of installation. When I put in the new to me engine I was probably going to move it to the head, so I don’t have to look at the wire.
 
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bracketchev1221

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Jan 18, 2018
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I would use the intake. That gives you an average temperature of the engine. If its good enough to modulate the engine temperature with the thermostat there its good enough to read the temperature.
 
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SS_Malibu

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I have mine in the driver's side head and the water temp gauge is where you were pointing to. I personally don't see an issue with the ease of installation as "temporary" however, temporary does have a way of being permanent as life intervenes and distracts from the original outcome.
 
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08Malibu

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Feb 9, 2014
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I have mine in the driver's side head and the water temp gauge is where you were pointing to. I personally don't see an issue with the ease of installation as "temporary" however, temporary does have a way of being permanent as life intervenes and distracts from the original outcome.
Tell me about it. My temporary engine has been in this car for 14 years or so. I do have two other engines here, so hopefully I’ll manage to get the “new” temporary one in there at some point soon.
I think I’ll use the spot in the intake anyway. It’s easy enough to get to.
 
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SS_Malibu

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Tell me about it. My temporary engine has been in this car for 14 years or so. I do have two other engines here, so hopefully I’ll manage to get the “new” temporary one in there at some point soon.
I think I’ll use the spot in the intake anyway. It’s easy enough to get to.
See, it was temporary. It was only in there for 14 years. Now if it's still in there at the end of the car's life or yours, then it was temporarypermanent.
 
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64nailhead

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Dec 1, 2014
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I prefer the intake manifold. It will always be hotter than the when coolant is flowing due to little to no cooling is taking place from the coolant port of the head to the short distance to sensor. I completely understand the appearance concern for you, not me lol. If appearance is your concern then the best place to put it is in the lower radiator pipe or near the outlet of the radiator with an adjustable setup like Derale makes. Then have your coolant temp sensor for the dash in the head. It's an easy way to identify an issue and you can completely hide the wiring.

It's not real popular to do this, but for hidden wiring it's great. And it's EXTREMELY helpful to determine cooling system issues.

Edit : just thought f your 14 year comment. About 14 years ago I bought a '64 Buick with a Nailhead. It's not done. But we've done 6 cars since then of which all were my son's except the MC and a Sprite. Present situation : 3 cars, 2 not finished but run great and street/strip car is registered, insured and scattered for winter upgrades. Geesh I have a crap ton to do rather than being on the computer hehe.
 
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08Malibu

Royal Smart Person
Feb 9, 2014
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North Jersey
I prefer the intake manifold. It will always be hotter than the when coolant is flowing due to little to no cooling is taking place from the coolant port of the head to the short distance to sensor. I completely understand the appearance concern for you, not me lol. If appearance is your concern then the best place to put it is in the lower radiator pipe or near the outlet of the radiator with an adjustable setup like Derale makes. Then have your coolant temp sensor for the dash in the head. It's an easy way to identify an issue and you can completely hide the wiring.

It's not real popular to do this, but for hidden wiring it's great. And it's EXTREMELY helpful to determine cooling system issues.

Edit : just thought f your 14 year comment. About 14 years ago I bought a '64 Buick with a Nailhead. It's not done. But we've done 6 cars since then of which all were my son's except the MC and a Sprite. Present situation : 3 cars, 2 not finished but run great and street/strip car is registered, insured and scattered for winter upgrades. Geesh I have a crap ton to do rather than being on the computer hehe.
I really don’t mind the wiring, as long as it’s neat. I’m going to put it in the intake on this engine to start.
 
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