LBMEFM
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| posted on 2/12/07 at 08:26 AM |
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Oil Pressure Guage
I was going to fit an oil pressure guage to my Indy-Fireblade, is there an sender that will run off/ replace the current oil light switch ?
But then I thought this is more cost,therefore, the question is do I really need a oil pressure guage or just rely on the warning light.
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2b_pablo
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| posted on 2/12/07 at 09:47 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by LBMEFM
I was going to fit an oil pressure guage to my Indy-Fireblade, is there an sender that will run off/ replace the current oil light switch ?
But then I thought this is more cost,therefore, the question is do I really need a oil pressure guage or just rely on the warning light.
personally I like a gauge so you can get a heads up quicker if pressure is dropping.
you use a brass T piece (about a fiver) to fit the sender and the pressure switch. the sender should come with the gauge.
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bonzoronnie
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 posted on 2/12/07 at 09:48 AM |
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Oil pressure
Hi.
An oil pressure gauge is very handy to monitor any minor oil pressure changes in the engine.
That said, The oil pressure warning light is just as efective. Just not to such a fine degree.
Either way. Low pressure reading/ Oil light on. Engine will still have to be stripped.
Ronnie 
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2b_pablo
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| posted on 2/12/07 at 10:02 AM |
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I find on track my oil pressure starts to drop after a few hot laps, once it drops below 2 bar I come in. usually sits around 4-5 bar.
a pressure switch wont tell you that but in saying that I upgraded my switch to a 25psi switch so Id know sooner if there was a problem.
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Macbeast
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| posted on 2/12/07 at 11:06 AM |
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My son completely knacked the big ends on his Zetec Fiesta but the oil pressure warning light went off as normal. Garage said oil pressure switch
doesn't really tell you anything musch. If I had a delicate high-revving engine I woud certainly fit a gauge
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RazMan
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| posted on 2/12/07 at 12:15 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by 2b_pablo
I find on track my oil pressure starts to drop after a few hot laps, once it drops below 2 bar I come in. usually sits around 4-5 bar.
Same story with me and I found that changing to an oil with a wider heat range (10W50 in my case) cured the problem. Now I can thrash it all day long
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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bonzoronnie
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 posted on 2/12/07 at 12:31 PM |
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Oil pressure switch
quote:
Originally posted by Macbeast
My son completely knacked the big ends on his Zetec Fiesta but the oil pressure warning light went off as normal. Garage said oil pressure switch
doesn't really tell you anything musch. If I had a delicate high-revving engine I woud certainly fit a gauge
I must say. I have to dissagree with your mechanics point of view.
I think you'll find this is garage slang for " I ain't got a clue wot caused it mate".
An oil pressure switch should at least indicate that you have sufficient oil pressure to protect your engine.
My Nephew also FUBAR'ed his fiesta. " Just packed up on me, Honest"
6 months later I find out from one of his friends. He had driven over 20 miles trying to reach the nearest motoway services with the oil warning light
on. He didn't make it. 
I do agree that for track use, an oil gauge is very usefull
Ronnie
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 2/12/07 at 12:59 PM |
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I have an oil pressure gauge - but I rarely have time to look at it while I'm driving. I mostly use it for occasional reassurance that things
are OK.
The oil warning light is my most important warning device - it's very bright, and gives the message "stop the engine NOW, or lose
it!". I've fitted a sensor that activates at a greater pressure than standard, so the engine's not on its last legs before I get an
indication.
Personally, I'd fit both - one for diagnostics, the other for the 'stop now!' message.
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Macbeast
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| posted on 2/12/07 at 03:23 PM |
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I agree, Ronnie, it SHOULD tell you you don't have enough pressure. But the light behaved normally (went out) even after the big ends went and a
man with a hammer was playing the anvil chorus inside the engine when I would expect the remaining oil pressure to be very low
The answer obviously would be to fit a pressure switch that operates at a higher than normal pressure (and a gauge )
The mechanic (I use the term loosely) then told me he couldn't drop the sump to check as two of the bolts were inside the clutch bellhousing. So
I took it home and dropped the sump with no problem at all.
It was only after this that Ford told me that they don't sell bearing shells or recon crankshafts any more and that I had to buy a new engine
Progress eh ?
[Edited on 2/12/07 by Macbeast]
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bonzoronnie
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| posted on 2/12/07 at 05:37 PM |
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Oil warning light
One flaw of the of the oil pressure switch is that the majority of them read the pressure measured at the main bearings. Although the oil gallery is
the full length of the crank. A small drop in pressure at the big end bearings will seldom register at the warning lamp.
In conclusion I think we must all agree that an oil pressure gauge is the best form of early engine wear detection.
I had the same malrkey with my Nephews Fiesta.
We both now belong to the same engine swappy club.
Ronnie
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martyn_16v
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| posted on 2/12/07 at 07:34 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by bonzoronnie
An oil pressure switch should at least indicate that you have sufficient oil pressure to protect your engine.
Someone should tell Alfa that. You'd think considering the amount of oil the things burn they'd make a bit more effort to make the light
an actual warning in advance of a problem, as opposed to being a late notification that it's already happened...
Alfa engines aren't cheap 
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