Mechanical oil pressure gauge installation [Merged 1-8]

[DSM_23]

ok i have a mechanical oil pressure guage for my 91 tsi awd and i know the general area to tap into just not the exact place, all i know is, is that its near the oil filter, other than that i cant figure out what to tap into, so if somebody could help me out here it'd be nice, thanks

 

[WatchItExplode]

I do have one question. Maybe it's because you have a 2g and I have a 1g, but my stock oil pressure sender looks different.

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It doesn't look the same as what you marked in orange, and I can't find any holes the right size to screw it into.

 

[tsunari]

I do have one question. Maybe it's because you have a 2g and I have a 1g, but my stock oil pressure sender looks different.

It doesn't look the same as what you marked in orange, and I can't find any holes the right size to screw it into.

Heheh . . . yeah, that is the stock sending unit. If you look further up in the thread, you'll notice me mentioning that I have a mechanical oil pressure gauge hooked up as well . . . but soon to be getting rid of it (whenever i can find a good stock sending unit).

And it screws into the hole that I marked- might want to put a little RTV on the threads to get a good clean seal on it as well.

 

[WatchItExplode]

Do we have different filter housings? I don't see anywhere to put it.

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[tsunari]

Do we have different filter housings? I don't see anywhere to put it.

Holy crap . . . you are absolutely right! Only thing I can think of is perhaps since the 1st year DSMs were so screwy, the 90 oil filter bracket doesn't have a provision for the sending unit (dunno why it wouldn't).

The housing I'm using is actually a '91 housing and has the tapped hole there in the back . . . perhaps you should grab one?

 

[240kid]

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here is mine. i have the autometer one.

 

[WatchItExplode]

Holy crap . . . you are absolutely right! Only thing I can think of is perhaps since the 1st year DSMs were so screwy, the 90 oil filter bracket doesn't have a provision for the sending unit (dunno why it wouldn't).

The housing I'm using is actually a '91 housing and has the tapped hole there in the back . . . perhaps you should grab one?

The whole reason I picked up a '90 housing is so I could run an air-oil cooler. My car is a '91.5 and had a water-oil cooler.

Could it be that the '91 has the style like yours, and the '91.5 is when converted to the water-oil cooling system?

 

[tsunari]

The whole reason I picked up a '90 housing is so I could run an air-oil cooler. My car is a '91.5 and had a water-oil cooler.

Could it be that the '91 has the style like yours, and the '91.5 is when converted to the water-oil cooling system?

With my knowledge it would be pure speculation . . . but yeah, that's probably what happened

 

[WatchItExplode]

Just curious...where did you buy your housing? And how much did the aftermarket electronic boost gauge set-up cost, including the sending unit and adapter fittings?

 

[WatchItExplode]

Nevermind, I went ahead and ordered the gauge and fitting, haha. What a copycat I am! Thanks for all your help man, I appreciate it a LOT.

 

[tsunari]

Just curious...where did you buy your housing? And how much did the aftermarket electronic boost gauge set-up cost, including the sending unit and adapter fittings?

You know. . . it occurred to me sometime before the weekend hit, but I actually have one of the filter brackets you need -- brand new if you're still interested . . .

 

[WatchItExplode]

Thanks for the offer but I'm going to see how this one does first. I haven't driven my car since April, so the last thing I need is another delay in the project! Should be up in running this month though

 

[93jdmlaser]

I have a 90 housing and when the stock sending unit crapped out just got the autometer one and it screwed right in there. Very easy took no time at all.

 

[MILITISINVICTUS]

I thought the rule of thumb on this one was, use mechanical gauges for pressure since it changes very fast, and use use electric gauges for temp since it changes slowly.
We all know electric gauges do not react as fast as the pressure they are reading, but just make sure to use brass or SS lines with AN fitting when you use Mechanical pressure gauges, unless its a boost gauge of course.

What kind of delay in reaction time are we talking about, in the case of electrical vs mechanical oil pressure gauges? A second?

 

[Chaddycakes21]

I would like to know this as well. Seeing as how no one has answered your question in 2 years.

 

[MyBeatGSX]

This has to be the funniest topic ever, that also happens to contain the 2 funniest replys ever.

I believe this was discussed before and someone even posted up a picture of good pressure taps... let me see if I can find it on my computer...

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There you go. What the picture doesn't say is that its prefectly fine to remove the stock pressure sending unit and tap there if the circled pressure source is already taken by the turbo feed line (which mine is).

Its recommended that you run a SS line from the pressure source to your sending unit to mount the sending unit remotely where it won't break from the vibrations. Preferably on the firewall somewhere.

The rest like power, ground, light, and gauge mounting is just common sence.

 

[Spoolin98]

What kind of delay in reaction time are we talking about, in the case of electrical vs mechanical oil pressure gauges? A second?

Im wondering the same thing

 

[gfalbert]

I just installed this electic unit today.

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=ATM-4327&N=700+0&autoview=sku

My results with the car fully warmed up were:

25 psi stopped in gear

50 psi crusing at around 2000 rpm

75 - 100 psi under full throttle

Does this sound right to everyone else with a gauge, electical or not?

 

[delta448]

I have a mechanical 0-100psi autometer oil pressure gauge. I know, should've gone with electrical... blah blah blah.

Anyways, the gauge comes with a long thin nylon tube and fittings for installing said tube onto the rear of the gauge, however I have no provisions for connecting the line to the engine. I searched for a solution but I'm still at a bit of a loss after 2 hours of old threads and bs google results. Any ideas?

Also, will the nylon line be sufficient, or am I going to melt it with high engine bay temps? Autometer's site shows that they have copper line kits for pressure gauges, -I just haven't found anyplace that stocks those kits yet.

 

[xioca]

I would definately upgrade to a copper line rather than running a nylon line full of oil into your car.

As for the install you can tap right into the stock sending unit.

Heres a link with some good info http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=221737&highlight=oil+pressure+tap

 

[delta448]

Yeah, I saw that thread when I searched. I know where to tap, I just don't have a way to connect the line to a fitting after the fitting is installed there. I don't have a sending unit since the gauge is mechanical and not electrical.

 

[xioca]

http://www.dsm.org/how-tos/gauges.htm

Bottom of the page.

 

[delta448]

Thanks for the help. For some reason I didn't realize that I could get the ferrules and tube clamping fittings from a non automotive source. I owe you one.

 

[project_tsi]

Take out your stock sending unit, and run a 1/8th NPT tap through it. The stock sending unit is BPT and NPT won't fit properly. Pick up a few 1/8th NPT fittings. Depending on if you want to run your stock oil pressure sending unit too, will dictate what fittings to get. And upgrade to a copper line please, don't run the nylon crap.

And don't anyone say don't ever run a mechanical oil pressure gauge in the cockpit. They can shove that shit. I have always ran a mechanical oil pressure gauge and always will, and I have never ever once had a single problem, and I have always ran the copper line.

 

[delta448]

Dan, thanks for all the good advice and the support for my decision to go mechanical on the gauge. I figured that I would have more reliability concerns with the elec style.

 

[Midnightride]

what size fitting is needed to use the brass fitting that are included in the mechanical autometer guages to put in place of the plug on the oil pump? I'm removing the plug with the allen key that is facing the front of the car.

looking for the fitting that has male on one side and female on the other. I need the male side to fit into the oil pump housing, and the female end to go over the autometer guage fittings.

ps: I am using copper line, I know some of you are worried about running the line in the cabin.