Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) back up under hood oil pressure guage?

[VicR]

It seems like I read an awful lot of posts about the oil pressure sender giving off false bad information. Has anyone added a back-up under the hood oil pressure guage. I thought that might be handy if you were traveling somewhere and got a 'zero' on the dash guage - a guy could check the mechnical guage and know if he could drive to the next town or had to call a wrecker. I'm thinking of something like this one. (this one happens to be a Summit Racing Fuel pressure guage, but you see what I'm saying). Could you use one of these directly off of the port on the oil filter housing?



-Vic

 

[matches]

That idea has been spoken of before here. I think it's a good idea and have been thinking about it myself. Yeah the port on the top of the oil filter housing is the place to do it, keep us informed. BTW I just replaced the oil pressure sending unit again on my truck, cost $30. 00.

 

[VicR]

I think I found a guage that would work, for a pretty reasonable price. Looks like it will screw right into the port on the oil filter, and its only $19. 95. My only concern would be its holding up to the vibration.



From Summit Racing:



VDO-153009D



A space-saving way to monitor oil and fuel pressure.



Gauge, Mini, Pressure, 0-100 psi. , 1 1/2 in. , Analog, Mechanical, Each



These VDO mechanical pressure gauges are a great way to monitor your fuel and oil pressure systems and save space, too. They feature a 1 1/2 in. diameter steel case, precision-machined brass movements, and built-in restrictors to give you the accuracy and durability you want. The chrome gauges feature black numbers on a white dial, a black pointer, and a chrome bezel and housing. The black gauges feature white numbers on a black dial, a red pointer, and a black bezel and housing.



Vendor VDO

Product Line VDO Mini Pressure Gauges

Gauge Type Pressure

Gauge Range 0-100 psi

Diameter (in) 1 1/2

Diameter (mm) (Not Specified)

Sweep Full sweep

Sending Unit Mechanical

Gauge Face Color Black

Gauge Number Color White

Pointer Color Red

Bezel Color Black

Liquid Filled No

OEM Replacement No

Sending Unit Included No

Quantity Sold individually.

Notes Will directly screw into any 1/8 NPT female port.

Gauge Series Analog

 

[LandShark]

Here's my 2 cents. If the OEM gauge is not reliable, why not just replace it with a more reliable gauge? By adding another gauge under the hood you are just adding another 'point of possible failure', plus it's more stuff that will be in the way when you need to work on the engine.



If you do mount a gauge in the engine compartment, do not mount it on the engine. The vibration will lead to early failure.



Another point: When's the last time anyone saw an actual oil pump failure? Very rare, as far as I know. My guess is that when you see an electric oil gauge read zero, the gauge has failed in about 99. 999% of the cases.

 

[PUMPERDUDE]

Be carefull of mounting anything directly on the oil filter housing. I thought it would be a good idea to put a 1/8 nipple and a valve on there to get my oil samples... . Well it wasn't long before the nipple cracked from the vibration and I had a leak . I doubt if a gauge would last very long mounted at that location. Even a fluid filled one... When my stock oil pressure gauge gives out,I'll mount a fluid filled gauge in the cab somewhere.

 

[MAX A/C]

if you were traveling somewhere and got a 'zero' on the dash guage - a guy could check the mechnical guage and know if he could drive to the next town or had to call a wrecker. -Vic

Vic- Here's another thing you can do that may accomplish what your'e looking for. I did this on my '93 and it worked great. It let me know if I lost oil pressure (without having to keep an eye on a gauge)... I installed an AutoMeter "below 15psi sender" (I don't remember exactly what it's called, but it closes a ground circut when pressure drops below 15 psi)... they also make a 7 psi one, but I tried that and found it to come on sometimes when slightly lugging, as in starting out from a dead stop). You wire it to set off a buzzer or light, or both. It sounds/lights the instant pressure drops. Worked great. Am going to do the same on my 'new' truck.



Cost was around $13 from Checker Auto Parts, and another $5 or so for a light and buzzer from Radio Shack. If you need me to dig up the AutoMeter number, lemme know.

Scott



PS it screwed right into the spare port of the filter housing.