trouble shooting the oil pressure gauge...

[am3gross]

i found the wire that goes to the gauge... i unpluged it and the gauge went to the far left.... 0... when i grounded it out to a bolt with a ***** driver in the end the gauge went half way up.... does this mean that the gauge is bad? if not what do i need to change to get this to work properly again? thanks for the help.... this site is the best thing that i have ever found.. it has been such a big help!

after i get this figured out my next question will be about a lifter tap that i believe i might have... but we will work on the oil pressure first! thanks to all that has helped me out so far.

 

[Seabronc]

Since the gauge seems to respond to resistance changes, I'd start by replacing the sender. They are notorious for going bad.

Good luck,

>-

 

[am3gross]

where is the sending unit at? is that where the wire goes into? i hope so cause that seems like an easy fix..... if that is where i change it out at will oil come out when i replace it? enough that i will have to do an oil change anyway?

 

[am3gross]

ok.... thanks to you guys i have fixed me oil pressure gauge! instead of just replacing the little sending unit i bought a new sun pro gauge and installed that. i figured that would rule out the gauge being bad also.... so i want to say thanks!

now for the last question about the oil pressure gauge, what is a good pressure? my gauge reads from 0-100. currently sitting in the drive running it is around 38-40... i want to know what number is normal, low, and high....

again thanks for alll the help and i am sure you will help with the many more questions that i have.... thanks broncozone!

 

[bidibronco]

40 is great... If you get below 10 you have a problem. If you have any issues with the oil psi dropping to 10 or so a good rule of thumb is for every 1000 rpms it should rise 10 lbs...

 

[boss]

ok.... thanks to you guys i have fixed me oil pressure gauge! instead of just replacing the little sending unit i bought a new sun pro gauge and installed that. i figured that would rule out the gauge being bad also.... so i want to say thanks!

now for the last question about the oil pressure gauge, what is a good pressure? my gauge reads from 0-100. currently sitting in the drive running it is around 38-40... i want to know what number is normal, low, and high....

again thanks for alll the help and i am sure you will help with the many more questions that i have.... thanks broncozone!

Just as well cause the factory gauge is a fake, as you found out - it reads 1/2 way (determined by a resistor) when grounded out as the sending unit is just a switch - on or off.