I have one on my 1985 Delta 88, sensor in the radiator, and it works great.

Finally picked up the correct radiator only it does not have the port for this sensor.

I still want the sensor.

Simple drill and tap?

 

Pics please but to me I'd be concerned about thickness of radiaor , like will it securely/not leak hold the sensor? But other than that I'd think k its that easy

 

I believe you can put the sensor in other areas such as the water neck (drill and tap into that ) , or on the intake manifold ( open water passage ports on the corners ). as long as it can read the coolant temp you are good. The sensor will not know whether its on the radiator or intake etc etc. I find it simpler to re route wires that to drill into a radiator. They sell adapter fittings to make them fit if the threads don't jive on the intake. The only way I would feel comfortable drilling into an intake is if I would have a bung welded to unsure I had no leaks. I don't think there is an area thick enough on the radiator to suport proper threads.

 

He can't do any of this. He has a coolant level indicator, not a coolant temperature indicator. That's what "Low Coolant" means in this case. The sensor is mounted at a specific point on the radiator tank a few inches below the filler neck.

This was an option available starting in the 1970s on some of the high-end cars (98s, 88s), and I don't think aftermarket radiators typically have this port. I doubt a sensor can be mounted by simply drilling and tapping the radiator tank at the correct position because there is nothing to drill and tap into because, as billmerbach notes, the tank walls are too thin.

Unless a radiator with a correct port for this can be located, I think it's something that will simply have to be left disconnected.


One thing you might do is take the radiator to a radiator shop along with your sensor and show them what you want. They might be able to weld or somehow attach a thicker piece of metal to the tank at the correct point and then drill and tap into that. I'm sure any good radiator shop would be familiar with something like this and might have some ideas on how to incorporate it into your radiator.

 

Wait hold on my afro engineering cogs are turning could he not
1.drill a hole
2. Find a nut that will fit the sensor
3. Weld but into place making sure of no gaps for leaks
4.mounting indicator
Would it be easier said than done

 

Ahhh jaunty you are correct somehow I missed the whole "low" in the post lol. Disregard what I said.

 

In so many words, this is what I suggested a radiator shop might be able to do.

 

My bad lol that's what I thought but if he's handy with welder and such maybe he could save money lol

 

No problem. I know zero about welding and do not have a welder, so this would not be an option for me. Also, aren't the radiator tanks made of plastic? At least, that's what I see when I search for radiators for '85 Delta 88s at O'Reilly's or Autozone's websites.

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par...6179_266525_0_

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...2465&ppt=C0331

 

I see hmm if it is drilling the plastic will weaken the entire thing virtually. Will it not?

 

That'd be my fear. Again, I'd take everything to a good radiator shop and get their opinion. I'm sure they would have seen this issue before and would know what can or cannot be done.

 

Do you have an over flow tank hooked to the radiator? If so you can install it in that. It will tell you the same thing.

 

I'd be very careful in making this assumption. I think if it were this simple, Olds would have put the sensor there and not on the radiator itself as it certainly would have been cheaper.

I think that if you want to know the level of coolant in the radiator, you want the sensor on the radiator, not in a secondary location that relies on an intermediate system to work as well. If there were ever a leak or a clog in the tubing between the radiator and the overflow tank, or if the radiator cap ever failed and didn't open and close at the proper pressures as it should, the level in the overflow tank wouldn't move with the level of fluid in the radiator itself, and the sensor would be useless.

The other issue is, where on the overflow tank do you put the sensor? The level in that tank changes as the engine warms and cools. Yes, you could put it just below the "cold" line, but there's simply too much "play" in the level in that tank for this to be a reliable location, in my opinion.

 

The level sensor serves the same purpose as a tire pressure sensor, low windshield wiper fluid sensor, or any other courtesy warning for people who don't know how to maintain their car by checking all the things we were taught to on our own.


I would just stick it an inch below the cold line. The coolant overflow tank is there to supplement the radiator and to catch coolant in case of an overheat. Under normal operating conditions, as the radiator cools it forms a vacuum and draws coolant from the tank. When the radiator heats, it expands and returns coolant to the tank. If in the morning the cold level falls below the sensor the light will come on to tell you the system is low.


In case of a catastrophic loss, the over temp warning system will alert the driver. The low level coolant sensor was not designed to form that function it's a courtesy light.

 

The Radiator I have is out of an 86 Carprice I found in the junkyard. I was so excited to find a metal ended, orginal radiator I just forgot to lookfor the low coolant sensor. Even the new radiators have an extra port which is for some other kind of hose to hook up. This hole is not threaded and can only be plugged with an oversized vacuum cap.