Mechanical or Electrical Oil Pressure Guage??

[MacGreenie]

1998 24v Ram 2500. 67K miles.



Should I go with mechanical or electrical on oil pressure guage installation? I plan to tap into the top of the oil filter mount into the 1/8 NPT plug that is currently there.



I am concerned that the instrument cluster oil pressure guage is not very accurate.



I do not know what the high limit of the engine oil pressure output is... over 100 psi, I imagine, so I think a good quality guage is in order.



I have toyed with the idea of a mechanical guage but do not like the nylon tubing or even copper tubing (1/8th inch) that comes with auto parts store versions because they look flimsy and susceptible to vibration or heat damage.



Where to go to get good braided hose (that is long enough) for a mechanical guage? I do not want high pressure oil running to the cab without an assurance it will stay in the guage! Any kits out there with braided "sender" lines? Anybody enginneer something really spiffy and want to show off the photos.



Also, I am running out of space thru the firewall hole to run more wires. Currently wired for oil temp, oil press, boost, rear diff, egt, transmission, water temp and dual fuel press. All Westach guages except do not have an oil press guage yet. Doubled some up with switches. Thoughts on alternate firewall passages?



Thanks everybody... keep on dieseling!

 

[Rman]

Thats a lot of gauges! Its always been my opinion that solid state sending units are accurate and reliable. Most consensus here is otherwise. Good luck running your setup, you'll hear the gamut of answers on this one. Do your homework and you'll be ok. Westach gauges are quality units as well.

 

[bmoeller]

I had a mechanical gauge on my gasser. Not long after I put it on the line broke right behind the gauge and put a quart of oil on the floor and right foot. Had my c. b. radio right below it and face of it got covered too. Didn't hurt it. Lasted another 6yrs. Replaced the gauge with an electronic gauge.

 

[rjones]

I would go electric they are more than accurate enough for the application,plus the reasurance that you wont fill your boot with oil or fuel... ... And it easier to run the wire if using a pllar mount guage holder.....

 

[illflem]

More than likely the only time you'll see a hazardous oil pressure reading is when the sender or it's wiring messes up. If you want a gauge that you can trust, which seems to be your objective, go with a mechanical.



Nylon tubing is better than copper as it handles flexing better. If you want better tubing don't buy a kit where it's rolled up in a fist sized ball. Most auto parts sell higher quality tubing by the foot. Just push it though a protective sheath of larger size tubing to protect it if you're concerned about damage.

 

[BarryG]

My gauges are all SPA's and are all electrical have had no problems for 50k. But nothing wrong with the mech ones. Can you use an isolator on all the mech ones or is that just for the mech fuel pressure gauges? As far as line I used it was either 3 or 4an braided ss line. This stuff is not bursting. Using it for my fuel pressure gauge sender mounted on the firewall.