Oil Pressure Gauge

**JAMAS** · 02/12/2009, 02:01 PM

Has anyone installed an Oil Pressure Gauge?

With the main issue on the VX being oil related, I thought it might not be bad idea. I already asked OHVX'er because he posted a picture, but the previous owner installed it.

Thanks.

**Gussie2000** · 02/12/2009, 07:40 PM

Yes,i saw one of us with some pics showing the gauges installed on the driver's side pillar trim;I can't recall who's the member right now.

**Ldub** · 02/12/2009, 09:09 PM

Originally Posted by JAMAS

Has anyone installed an Oil Pressure Gauge?

With the main issue on the VX being oil related, I thought it might not be bad idea. I already asked OHVX'er because he posted a picture, but the previous owner installed it.

Thanks.

By the time it registers on a gauge...IF you happen to notice it...it'll most likely be too late.
By that time, you're already 2-3+ qts. low...

Check oil level EVERY time you fill fuel...

**VehiCrazy** · 02/13/2009, 05:53 AM

I have one on mine, the pix are on here somewhere.

The only bad part of the install is where to read the pressure from. I used the oil filter fixture. There is a plug there from the factory. The pain part is that it is a weird thread size. I tefloned the hell out of a standard fitting and it has been fine for 7 years now.

As far as being able to see low oil, you will be able to if you glance at it often. What happens is when you go around corners or are on a steep hill and if the level is low enough it will momentarily pool the oil away from the pickup. You will see the gauge go towards zero and then stumble back. But you have to glance at it often to catch it. You can also use it to monitor bearing condition because this is where you maintain oil pressure. If you know the usual baseline pressures you can watch for a steady degradation.

**tom4bren** · 02/13/2009, 06:07 AM

Where you place the pick up is very important. You actually want to read it at a location that has variations as that will give you the quickest indication of low pressure ... but you have to 'learn' to use it (when to look at it, how often and under what conditions).

I know that the OEM oil pressure guage on my TLC is worthless. It doesn't read low pressure even when I'm very low on oil.

Actually, let me caviate the above statement: it's worthless as an absolute measurement, but ... I've learned that when my oil level gets low, the pressure reading varies more with engine rev.

**TheGanzman** · 02/13/2009, 08:17 AM

As previously indicated, Oil Pressure (and Oil Level) gauges are ALMOST not worth the trouble or expense of installing; in real World conditions, you virtually have to be STARING at the damned gauge with a hand on the ignition (or kill switch) to truly have a chance of actually "saving" your engine. Usually, those gauges are just good at being "reporters"; they're the first to tell you that you've already HAD a catastrophic problem!

They're good in race cars, because race car drivers are trained and used to checking their gauges every 2 seconds, literally. In real World driving, we're all guilty of being lulled into a bucolic state of complacency; fiddling with radios, CD players, DVD players, Palm Pilots, Cell Phones, GPS devices, returning text messages, nut scratching - have I left anything out?

I'd bet the BEST among us prolly only averages checking what gauges we have maybe 12 times/hour over the course of a drive...

Now if you're REALLY heart-set on making a failsafe "system" to save your engine in a low pressure situation, there are total systems available that will monitor your oil pressure/level (BTW, this will require you to modify your oil pan with a sophisticated baffling system) at all times, and automatically shut your engine off in the event of a loss of pressure/level. I'm guessing it's not likely "street legal" (not that I guess anyone would CARE if they were hellbent on having said system) and it's probably pretty expensive in its own right, but they DO exist and they could be modified for the VX...

Myself, I'd only consider it if I had a Keith Black-built all-aluminum Hemi motor worth $30-50K; now THAT would be something to protect! (Hmmm....wonder if it would fit in the VX...

)

**Ldub** · 02/13/2009, 08:37 AM

[QUOTE=TheGanzman;148147] In real World driving, we're all guilty of being lulled into a bucolic state of complacency; fiddling with radios, CD players, DVD players, Palm Pilots, Cell Phones, GPS devices, returning text messages, nut scratching - have I left anything out?

[QUOTE]

Well, since you asked