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

 

[Need2Gofaster]

i searched and searched. I still don't know how to install my electrical short sweep, sports compact oil pressure gauge. I just ordered a remonting kit. So i wont be installing it today.

I really need picture's instruction. IF anyone has one, please post it for me. And do i wire the sender wires through the steering wheelboot.

thanks
jason.

 

[Dsmj89]

Yes i know this thread has been beaten past it;s due death years ago but i have my last gauge to install, yeah you guessed it...
No i'm not going to get the electrical piece, i'm going to work with what i have.
Wondering if there are any of you that have installed this mechanical gauge with the provided nylon tubing and installed it realyl good as to the point where they never had a problem with it leaking ?
I have no problem keeping it away from heat as i will wrap the tubing.
Just wondering if i should use thread sealant on the provided fittings or just tighten them down real good ?
Thanks.

 

[Dsmj89]

Anybody ?

 

[DSMunknown]

Thanks for the PM.


My original nylon hose and fittings lasted me four years, until I decided to have them replaced in September of 2008. Coincidentally I have more oil leakage now than I did then, but mostly because of the shop's somewhat shoddy work. Will through up some pix whenever I remember to do so. But I did get rid of the brass T fitting.

 

[99gst_racer]

I have mechanical gauges in my car as well.
I used teflon lined, stainless braided hoses and AN fittings for fluid transfer.
Hasn't leaked a drop.
This is about the only way I'd feel completely confident about pumping oil into the cabin.

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[DSMunknown]

Paul, I have the three gauge a-pillar pod combo with my oil gauge on the bottom. Did you need to trim the body frame or cut out part of the pod to allow for the AN fittings and SS line to fit? Mine is sticking out so bad that practically the entire gauge is out of the pod.

And to add to what I was saying eariler, with the nylon hose it leaked constantly right at the gauge connection. It would always leak down into the carpet. Didn't really bother me, since the car looks like shit anyways, but something I thought I would throw out there. I contribute it to the tube's "crush washer". I can't remember it's precise name at this point in time. A little help?

Oh, and the leaking I was refering to was down at the oil sending unit housing, not at the gauge. Looks like I may have to weld all the fittings to the housing.

 

[Dsmj89]

Thanks dsmunknown. I feel i cn do it right then and not scared anymore. I'll make sure i seal it good.

 

[99gst_racer]

Paul, I have the three gauge a-pillar pod combo with my oil gauge on the bottom. Did you need to trim the body frame or cut out part of the pod to allow for the AN fittings and SS line to fit? Mine is sticking out so bad that practically the entire gauge is out of the pod.

No, that bottom one wouldn't fit. But, the gauge was DOA, so I removed it anyway. The one in the center fits fine though. I ended up relocating my wideband gauge to the lower spot on the pillar.

I contribute it to the tube's "crush washer". I can't remember it's precise name at this point in time. A little help?

It's called a "compression ferule".

 

[warranty]

Since I was just under the car this weekend re-wiring my aftermarket VDO oil pressure and temperature senders, I thought I'd contribute some facts:

My car is a 95 4G63T with the stock 7-bolt oil filter housing (water-cooled oil cooler):

1. The stock allen plugs are 3/8 NPT. If you have an aftermarket 1/8 NPT sender, you can get a 1/8 -> 3/8 NPT bushing and install the sender in one of those holes (which is exactly what I did).

2. The stock oil pressure sender (the big one...not the smaller one for the idiot light) thread size is 1/8 BSP. This is NOT NPT!!! An aftermarket 1/8 male NPT sender will barely screw in 1 turn because the threads are not compatible. If you want to eliminate the stock pressure sender and install an aftermarket sender, you NEED a 1/8 NPT -> 1/8 BSP adapter like Summit Racing sells (something like $8).

By the way, I'm not sure why nobody else uses VDO "Vision" line of electrical gauges. VDO gauges and senders are relatively cheap (only around $30 for most gauges and something like $10 for a temperature/pressure sender), high-quality made in Germany (they're OEM supplier for BMW/Mercedes/Volvo etc...none of the eBay crap that you don't know where they're made), and look completely stock (red lit needle and white letters that are backlit to orange like stock if you paint the bulbs with some orange nail polish).

Warren

 

[Dsmj89]

I came upon this STM OIL PRESSURE GAUGE INSTALL KIT (AT HEAD) | 90-99 DSM from stm and wanted to know where i could get a pre-made extension and or find adapters to extend it becuase i am pretty sure this won't reach my oil pressure gauge.
If anyone can chime in i would appreciate it as i want to get my oil pressure working already.

I also found this Auto Meter
Will that work with no problem ? Anyone know ?

 

[Dsmj89]

Hey gstracer i see you are running s.s. oil pressure lines and wanted to know how many feet of it did you use and where are you getting your oil reading from ? Head ? OFH ?

I also would like to know if anyone knows, what is the size on the hole where i would feed my oil pressure source from ?
I'm looking to get my oil reading from there and trying to gather all the info i need to start piecing the parts i would need.

 

[99gst_racer]

I can't remember how long the line is. If I had to guess, I'd say it was right around 5 feet.
I tee'd mine into the OFH where the factory pressure sensor is.
If I can dig up a pic on my home PC, I'll post it later.

My set-up is very similar to the picture in post #123, except mine is at the OFH and uses far less fittings.

 

[Dsmj89]

Oh ok thanks. Well i was looking to feed mine from the head, is that just as good of a source ?
And would you happen to know the size banjo bolts i would need to fit in that hole ?
I will be using -4an ss hose.

 

[turbotalon1g]

I wanted to T into my turbo feed line, but at the end of the line that goes into the turbo, because I use nitrous jets for restrictors, it was cheap and easy and lets me change the size if needed. But I won't know till i get a gauge rigged up.

Fitting is a 12x1.25mm

 

[9!'clipseDOHC]

I can confirm that you will need a 1/8 BSPT male to 1/8 NPT female adapter to tap into the factory oil pressure gauge port on a 1g. I used Autometer part #2269. I wrote a tech article on the whole process and I will post a link as soon as it is approved by the mods.

 

[99gst_racer]

FYI: You could also run a 1/8" NPT tap through that port and then use NPT fittings without the need for a BPT-NPT adapter.

 

[ramsack]

i put a mechanical oil pressure gauge in my mr2 with 1/8" copper line. never leaked, and i never bled it either. worked fine. i'm sure if you soldered the brass ferrule to the copper line and thread locked the compression fitting it would be a really safe install. i think installing a mechanica fuel pressure gauge or nitrous gauge would be a stupid thing, but oil is just messy, and it's viscous, so it trying to flow through a tiny 1/8" line that is ###### less than 1/32" inside probably will not spray everywhere. especially as it will probably be cooled down by the end of its travel. but if i could do it again i would get an electric one.

 

[giovanniv]

FYI: You could also run a 1/8" NPT tap through that port and then use NPT fittings without the need for a BPT-NPT adapter.

How do I go about doing that? I just got one of those sun-pro kits or something like that with all the fittings and the copper line but it obviously doesn't work with the BPT crap.

 

[ramsack]

get a 1/8-27 NPT tap and tap handle. it sucks the BSPT is 1/8-28, only one thread off per inch out of almost 30!

 

[giovanniv]

Sorry if you can't tell I have no clue how to go about with the tap handle and everything. What exactly are you doing with the tap handle? Making new threads where the stock oil pressure sender goes? Where do I get a 1/8-27 NPT tap handle?

 

[Benshooter]

Sorry if you can't tell I have no clue how to go about with the tap handle and everything. What exactly are you doing with the tap handle? Making new threads where the stock oil pressure sender goes? Where do I get a 1/8-27 NPT tap handle?

Tap and die sets can be found at harbor frieght, home depot, most local hardware stores, etc.

An excellent investment!

 

[9!'clipseDOHC]

Sorry if you can't tell I have no clue how to go about with the tap handle and everything. What exactly are you doing with the tap handle? Making new threads where the stock oil pressure sender goes? Where do I get a 1/8-27 NPT tap handle?

Sounds like it might be better for you to just get the adapter that I mentioned a few posts up. Simple and easy with no risk of damaging your threads.

 

[ramsack]

if it already threaded then get an adaptor. bspt and npt are the same diameter and it is only a difference in the thread pitch, so i don't think you will end up with nice threads tapping it. i would go with this adaptor. stainless steel will hold up better than brass.

 

[9!'clipseDOHC]

i would go with this adaptor. stainless steel will hold up better than brass.

That one looks good and its cheaper then the Autometer one.

 

[ramsack]

yes they have a lot of cool stuff on that site