[dsm_drew]

I'm considering installing an aftermarket oil pressure gauge in my trep, 2.7 motor. What is a recommended location for the pressure sender? Is there an unused/plugged port in an oil galley on the block somewhere that can be used easily?

While I'm at it let me ask those of you who have installed oil pressure gauges what pressures do you usually see? The FSM says minimum 5psi at idle and at 3000rpm it can be anywhere between 45 and 105 psi. Most gauges are either 80psi max or 100psi max. I would like to have the 80psi gauge unless pressures regularly exceed 80psi during normal driving.

I have to say I was shocked to see that 5psi is the minimum safe pressure. I'm used to dealing with turbo Eclipses/Talons and most people consider their idle pressure of 10psi to be very low!

[Daytrepper]

Best thing to do is tee it in at the sensor; there is no easily accessible oil plug to pull pressure from.

The sensor is on the passenger side of the block near the center of the engine, just above the oil pan.

[dsm_drew]

Thanks. I was just looking at gauges again and had an idea. VDO makes a sender for their pressure gauges that includes a contact for a warning light. The contact turns on the warning light at 7psi. The stock oil switch on our cars turns the light on at 4psi. So I'm thinking I would just replace the stock sender with the VDO unit and have both a gauge and a light that warns of low pressure sooner. The light would come on *before* pressure drops below the minimum 5psi rather than after it has dropped that low.

Still want to hear from others what they see on their oil pressure gauges during normal driving.

[yiranhu]

actually while we're on this topic, is there a oil pressure sender that screws right into our engine? getting adapters and whatnot is really annoying... Last time I tried it the thing leaked...

[dsm_drew]

I was thinking the same thing. Need to find out what size and thread the stock sender is. I'm seeing aftermarket senders that are 1/8-27 NPT, 1/4-18 NPT, M10, M12, and M14.

[froggy81500]

stock threads might be 1/4" but I am not sure.

[yiranhu]

I think it's 3/8. It's pretty big...

[froggy81500]

Maybe. Its been awhile since I've seen it. My old one that went bad is in pieces on the shelf above my tool box. Will have to look at it later. I cut it open to see what exactly failed in it. I know the socket for it is pretty big but I didn't think the threads were 3/8", but now that you mention it this came up before when someone was installing a pressure gauge. Might have been JoeKD.

[froggy81500]

According to one of my older posts about this, I stated I thought they were 3/8" in that thread. The old age of 35 must be catching up with me, duh!

[peva]

You're cruel!

[dsm_drew]

1/8 and 1/4 NPT doesn't mean it is that diameter like sizing for most bolts. For example, 1/8 NPT has an outside diameter of .405 inch, and 1/4 NPT has an outside diameter of .540. I'm going to the parts store for something else later and I guess I can ask to see a new sender and check what size it is.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_pipe_thread

[froggy81500]

Some days it just feels that way, friggin' old and tired. A lot lately.