Curious about oil pressure gauge

[JFitzgerald]

My factory oil pressure gauge needle comes up very slowly on startup. Is the gauge just slow to respond? Or, does the Cummins' actually take that long to build pressure? Or, do I have a problem? Doesn't seem to be any faster or slower with temperature changes.

 

[EOliver]

Mine is slow too. I am going to make the switch to Amsoil 5W-30 for the winter soon, and will see if there is a difference...

 

[Midnite]

When you say that it's slow, does it take 10 seconds to show any pressure, or is it like 60 seconds?



My gauge starts showing pressure within 3 - 5 seconds after the engine fires up. I think if everything's working properly, whatever time lag there may be is all in the gauge--from what I've read oil pressure normally comes up much quicker than the gauge indicates.



Mike

 

[GOODE11]

My oil pressure guage moves up in about 2 seconds.



Steadies at about 3/4 until I drive awhile. Then it will settle a little over half for the duration.

 

[JFitzgerald]

It takes about 10 seconds to come up to about 3/4 when cold and then a little over 1/2 after warm, like GOODE11.



I'm guessing it is a slow to respond sensor, or the gauge is dampened.

 

[HEYBOSS]

It's normal

These gauges are controlled through the em I believe, the oil pressure is always there, just that the ecm is a little slow relating the signal to the dash gauge, anyone please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Matt S]

The gauge has an eletrical pickup off the driver side of the engine on the 1st Gens. It isn't a mechanical gauge that would read small changes. The oil pressure is there. I usually wait until it comes up before I drive it to ensure it is flowing throughout the engine.

 

[JFitzgerald]

Thanks

Thanks for the input. I was talking to a friend who learned that the Cherokee has that setup - the oil pressure sesor wires into the computer, and the computer controls the gauge. Maybe this is a DC standard format? If someone has a mechanical gauge on their Cummins, he could tell us how his gauge reads on startup. This morning, I paid close attention on startup and it took about 15 seconds to rise to a steady position. I prefer mechanical gauges for oil pressure and water temp, but hey, I guess they have been fine for 111K now, so why worry. As long as you get used to the way the gauge reads, you can watch for anything out of the ordinary, and not be be too concerned with accuracy.

 

[Shrimpy]

I have a mechanical on mine. Installed it after I was cruising down the road, looked down and factory gauge was on "L", actually where it is when truck is turned off!!! I installed a mechanical gauge on a "T" that way I can keep the electric one. My truck has approx. 225,000 miles on it and the mechanical gauge takes between 2 to 5 sec. after it fires depending on outside temp.

 

[MAX A/C]

I have a low oil pressure sensor mounted in the spare tap on the oil filter mounting. It activates a buzzer on the lower dash when oil pressure is below 15 psi. It buzzes for 1 to 2 seconds after the engine fires (there would be no lag time with it's "reading"), so this tells me it takes that long for pressure to rise, at least at that location.

Scott

 

[JFitzgerald]

Thanks

Thanks Shrimpy and Scott Morgan. That is what I figured was going on, just a slowly responding gauge. Now I won't have to worry when I'm starting it cold.