oil drain plug -> VDO oil temp sender

I did my first 5,000 mile oil change, and I was
going to replace the oil drain plug with my new
VDO oil temp. sender.

Unfortunately, the VDO sender is an "M10x1", and
the oil drain plug is a much larger diameter.
I've heard the oil drain plug is the best place
to take the oil temperature. What am I missing
here?? Did I get the wrong sender?? Is there
an adapter of some kind that I need? Or should
I just use M10x1 tap by the pump at the end of
the valve cover? (My '03 Golf doesn't have the
extra tap on the oil filter housing).

Any help would be appreciated!

Hmm, I notice VDO has some different kinds of
bushings for use with their pressure and temp. senders.

Anyone know which one would work in my applications??

Thanks for the help!

I have a VDO sender in my turbocharged Harley for oil temp. It is 1/8" pipe thread but I imagine there are more than one size. If your sender is the sme thread you may have to get a tap for 1/8 pipe and the tap drill. Sorry but I can't remember the tap drill size and my guide is at my shop. I tapped the drainplug for the oil pan on my Harley for 1/8" pipe thread and just unscrew the whole thing to change oil. Hope this helps. GOod luck, Friday

The oil drain plug is M14. VDO makes one that fits, because I have one in my hand right now

Summit racing should be able to set you up with the right bushing to fit the Pan then screw in the sensor. Thats where i got mine,

Were there a good number of threads on the bushing?
That is a problem with the vdo oil pan sender - not enough threads.

Thanks, all. I found and ordered the correct VDO
sender for the oil drain plug. It was less expensive
than the bushing kit!

I had plenty of threads on my bushing. FOR the above where did you find the proper sensor and what was the part number?

I had used vdo part 323-055 for the 300 F gauge until it got stripped out during a dealer oil change after which I got a new oil pan. I think I got it from egauges.com

Thanks i will try one. I was going to leave the bushing and sender it and use a top sider to change the oil, But rather do it the old fashion way.

I don't remember the part number (it's at home),
but I did get the sender from egauges.com. Just
poke around and you should find it.