Oil pressure gauge mechanical/electrical

which is the easiest to install? read that u can tee off the sending unit(i just sprang an oil leak from there again:shock for mechanical guages but not much on electrical type so while im messing with that thought id install a pressure gauge. thoughts? easiest on install in terms of not radically modifying existing parts would be great. and im getting a amp guage and water temp gauge. so any useful install info would be great. i have read quite a few posts on gauge installs but the majority were for big blocks and gs's with existing gauges of some sort.

 

I don't want an oil line inside my car. (or even one running up to the firewall) If it ever leaks it is a complete disaster. Electrical are not quite as accurate, but real close. I think mechanical gauges are actually easier to install. If I was mostly racing it I would probably opt for mechanical. All my opinion.

 

I'd use a mechanical guage, BUT I dont blame you for not wanting to route an oil line inside the car. The electrical guages are pretty accurate nowadays.

 

Electric or mechanical you still need to T off the same port if you want to keep the stock gage or idiot light functional. If not unscrew the stock unit and screw in the new. Wires are easyr to run in to the car than copper or plastic tubing.

 

I run an electric oil pressure gauge under the dash and a warning light on the steering column next to the tachometer. Requires some creative plumbing as has already been mentioned.



I put the old urban myth that "mechanical gauges react more quickly" to the test about three years ago; I did a side-by-side response test between my old AutoMeter mechanical pressure gauge and my new AutoMeter electric gauge. There was no difference between the two as to how quickly they reacted to changes in pressure.

Devon

 

well got the gauges 1 mechanical oil pressure,would have prefered electrical but hey it was a good deal, 1 coolant gauge, and an ammeter all with a nice 3 bay under dash mount. oh yeah and an tachometer. but back to the oil pressure gauge i got the clear/white nylon tubing with it along with all the fittings and brass adapters anyway anyone knw the kind of T fitting and whaat else i may need. and a way to protect this tubing from heat/bending to much or a suggestion on another kind of tubing setup

thanks

 

A word of advice, ditch the ammeter and use a volt meter.

 

The amp meter is a pain to install and it has to be done correctly to work right. The voltmeter will work just as effectively and is a lot easier to install. With the oil gauge I bought a braided hose and ditched the plastic hose for the oil pressure gauge. With heat in the engine compartment and with age I believe the plastic will get brittle and may crack or leak. When I did use one, it was in the car a long time and did not leak but became very hard after a long time and I did not trust it at that point.

 

Some previous owners installed a mechanical oil gauge and removed the idiot light sender and now the wire just hangs there.Any ideas where to get a idiot light sender and T adapter?

 

I don't know how easy or difficult it is to find brass fittings with American National Pipe Thread sizes in Estonia.

Devon

 

Nearly impossible I guesse?o No: I'll try to ask somone to buy and shipp them to me.I'm gonna need some other parts anyway.

 

I installed a mechanical tach last month and used 6 feet of braided steel line, word of advice if you want to use factory hole in firewall for routing more than 6 feet is required:TU:

 

I put a mechanical in he wagon, because I had it and I wanted to match my mechanical temp gauge. I ditched the plastic line and used braided. Worked good until it fell on the ground. Its at Autometer getting fixed.

Tim

 

well deciding im gonna ditch the idiot lights and just run the gauges. 6 foot of braided line sounds kinda spendyplus id have to get all new fittings as the lil hole in the oil pressure fitting will not accept anything laarger than what it came with. unless someone knows a cheaper way to do the same concept. i was thinking about possibly using a split loom thats heat resistant but idk much about this kinda stuff.

 

http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS-Performance-Products/555/41059/10002/-1?parentProductId=762797

Really not that expensive considering the alternatives (copper line that will work harden overtime and possibly crack, or nylon which will definitely crack and also piss tech off at the strip) It comes with all fittings necessary to fit NPT or AN style threads

 

A "hey why didn't I think of this fix" is to run the plastic line that came with your kit through some fuel line or vacuum line.

Fuel line is cheap and will protect the oil line.

 

To answer your question on what to use, I'm changing my mech. oil and water over to electric.

I'll have some photo's loaded this week hopefully to my thread as I plan on installing them this week.

My thread:

http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=234549