I just got myself an Autometer Oil Pressure gauge (2nd Hand ) but need help installing it...HELP!

 

Why........ as in why did you get one?

Now that my question is out of the way...... did it include the sender?

Does it require you to tap the oil pan?



Big Cracker

 

I managed to get the a voltmeter, oil pressure guage & the dual pillar pod for under $50, so I figured why not?!

It included the hose and that's it...what is the sender?

 

You got a mechanical oil pressure gauge. It is not recommended to install this inside the cabin.

 

no sh*t, really!?!?!?! (not sarcastic)

How come?

 

First..you need to figure out if it's a mechanical or eletrical. On the back of the gauge, does it have a metal fitting sticking out or does it have a plug inlet for a wiring harness?

 

well if it's just has a hose not a gauge, then you got a mechanical. Unless you wonna risk getting sprayed with really hot oil, or have it leak all over your car I wouldn't put it in!!!

 

-Because a mechanical gauge reads pressure by a diaphragm (usually inside the gauge) attached to an oil line, which is pressurized all the way back to wherever the gauge is mounted. If you mount the gauge inside the cabin & you (God forbid) have an oil line rupture or fitting failure inside the cabin (from the firewall back to the gauge), you will suddenly have hot, black oil spraying all over your interior - aside from the mess, it could cause you to have a really bad day in traffic. . .

On a daily-driver, an Electronic Oil-Pressure Sending Unit is the safest configuration to go with because unlike the mechanical setup, it doesn't require the installation of any external oil lines. Instead, it takes the reading inside the sump and transmits the reading electronically through a wiring harness, up to the gauge).


With an EOPSU, you probably will have to tap into the oil pan, but that's not too big a deal, really. If you're not comfortable with that, a qualified machine shop can easily do it - just make sure you put the sending unit somewhere on the pan where the wiring harness will have adequate clearance from hot exhaust parts, etc., and in a location where road hazards are not likely to break it off.



PS: the bad news is, if you DO have a mechanical gauge there, it cannot be used with an electronic sending unit, so you may need to spring for a new gauge and sending unit. (But hey, you got the a-pillar pod for a fair price & maybe you can sell the mechanical pressure gauge on E-bay or something to recoup some ca$h. . .)

 

Thanks all for your responses, I'm missing the hose that goes with it so I'm just going to put it on ebay and get me a boost or a air ratio gauge.

 

This is a very valid point about the hot oil thing. I don't know how often it happens, but I figure once would be enough for most people.

If you are dead set on having a mech. gauge (larger sweep, can't afford to buy an elect. gauge until you sell it, etc...) AND need it in the car, then you could use an isolator. As the name implies, it isolates the hot oil, fuel, whatever on the outside of the car and uses a fluid solution to drive the diaphragm in the gauge. AutoMeter sells these separately.

Aloha,

Quack2x

 

good 2 know thanks