xonix_digital Posted April 8, 2010 Share Posted April 8, 2010 Hey guys, I just took my car out for its first real drive and I noticed that my oil pressure stayed pretty low after driving for approx 1.5hrs. See below. Is this too low??? Sorry for the noob question. Thanks. _ A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yetterben Posted April 8, 2010 Share Posted April 8, 2010 Get a mechanical gauge 35 year old gauges are the suck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xonix_digital Posted April 8, 2010 Author Share Posted April 8, 2010 Get a mechanical gauge 35 year old gauges are the suck. Thats a pretty good point! Although, if my oil really was running that low in pressure, would I be risking damage to my engine? What do your Oil Pressure guages run at? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ModernS30 Posted April 8, 2010 Share Posted April 8, 2010 Thats a pretty good point! Although, if my oil really was running that low in pressure, would I be risking damage to my engine? What do your Oil Pressure guages run at? If your oil pressure was that low yes you would risk damage to the engine. Is it? No, mine does that too, it's on and off, the gauge just doesn't work anymore because its old. Get a cheapo ebay mech. gauge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAG58 Posted April 8, 2010 Share Posted April 8, 2010 Go spend the <50 bucks on a mechanical Oil Pressure gauge. I got tired of being afraid of no oil pressure so I just stuffed it in the clock hole. Turns out that halfway up on the gauge was something like 70psi and that idle at "zero" was more like 20. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyoctopus Posted April 8, 2010 Share Posted April 8, 2010 something abotu having oil running into a gauge in the dash doesnt seem appetizing. semi-on topic: for those that are running an electrical gauge, are you using the stock sending unit or a different one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrustnut Posted April 8, 2010 Share Posted April 8, 2010 There are other threads on how the stock gauges suck, they are more of a reference then a reading. When I first finished my engine I had NO oil pressure indication, I guess then sending unit crapped out sitting in a bag for a year. My readings now are pretty high when the oil is cold, which is understandable with a freshly rebuilt engine and cold oil, then drops down to around your position when the oil is warm. Also know that the thread pitch for the sending unit is different (I can't remember offhand what it is)but do a search before you try to screw something else in there. As far as compatibility of electronic gauges, if you know the ohm scale of the stock sending unit, you should be able to find a gauge to match. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoov100 Posted April 8, 2010 Share Posted April 8, 2010 If you use any electric sender that uses NPT, you need a BPT to NPT adapter. Or you could try and tap the block. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrustnut Posted April 8, 2010 Share Posted April 8, 2010 That's it BPT, thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoov100 Posted April 8, 2010 Share Posted April 8, 2010 Now that I think of it, autometer sells the adapter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xonix_digital Posted April 8, 2010 Author Share Posted April 8, 2010 (edited) that sucks. I like the stock gauge. Oh well. Edited April 8, 2010 by xonix_digital Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yetterben Posted April 8, 2010 Share Posted April 8, 2010 (edited) Well then get a mechanical one and a bunch of resistors and figure out what ohm rating is needed to match up with the mechanical gauge. Over your head........then stick with a aftermarket gauge. This way you can decide your own sweep and make it custom to your liking. Edited April 8, 2010 by yetterben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyoctopus Posted April 8, 2010 Share Posted April 8, 2010 link to the adapter - http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ATM-2269/ link for the sender - http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ATM-2241/ and for the gauge, to keep stock look-ish... low cost - http://www.summitracing.com/parts/VDO-350106/ personally like the look of these - http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ATM-2634/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoov100 Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 link to the adapter - http://www.summitrac...parts/ATM-2269/ link for the sender - http://www.summitrac...parts/ATM-2241/ and for the gauge, to keep stock look-ish... low cost - http://www.summitrac...rts/VDO-350106/ personally like the look of these - http://www.summitrac...parts/ATM-2634/ VDO's are actually pretty nice if your looking for a bare bones and accuracy. over looks, flashiness and advertising. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xonix_digital Posted April 9, 2010 Author Share Posted April 9, 2010 Octo, thanks for the links! You guys really hooked me up with some info. Much appreciated! After looking at those gauges I seem to remember a set of auto meters with the green lights, similar to my current stock ones. It makes sense that I should swap it out. Function over having the original equipment I guess. Man there are a lot gauge choices... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyoctopus Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 man if you think VDOs are quality, i only know them from junkyard VWs, then I think I may have found the gauges that i will be swapping in; as they are significantly cheaper than autometer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yetterben Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 Vdo's are stock on basically all European cars from Ferrari to VW rabbit and everything in-between. Good stuff. I have a set of old school liquid filled gauges from my 64 124 spyder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrustnut Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 VDO's are pretty standard in aircraft as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gollum Posted April 12, 2010 Share Posted April 12, 2010 Those stock oil pressure gauges are much like gauging the levels of "turned on" a woman is. -Usually if you turn your engine on, you get at least some response. Even if it's just a minimal shrug. -If you idle too low, the gauge might read hazardously low, or might turn off all together -If you happen to be lucky enough to be in a ZX, then when it gets low lights start turning red! Warning will robinson, danger! -Sometimes you might rev your engine up as hard as you can, with absolutely NO response in pressure... -That damn gauge will keep you looking for problems that... shhh.... don't exist -The best is when you're just driving along minding your own freakin' business and it just drops to nothing My overall theory on those things is that they're just attention hogs. They just want to be looked at constantly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin.pk Posted April 12, 2010 Share Posted April 12, 2010 (edited) something abotu having oil running into a gauge in the dash doesnt seem appetizing. If you use the cheapo plastic line that the guages often come with, I would be nervous too. I had a buddy that had that plastic line break and spray down the back side of his dash and eventually carpet with hot oil. I used a stainless braided hose with AN fittings. After a year and half I haven't had any issues at all. My only gripe is when its time to pull the dash I have to detach the gauges(water temp gauge too.. analog probe type) from the dash before removal. Edited April 12, 2010 by 280zcar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.