Recently I have noticed something strange with the oil pressure on my X Flow, at idle it runs at 2 Bar, however over 4000RPM the gauge shoots up to 7
bar and drops just as fast with the revs, my gauge is an electrical Auto gauge unit, my gut tells me that it could be the gauge or sender
unit......... or could it be the pump?
Any ideas
Cheers
That is why I only fit capilary gauges
It might not be your gauge sender, but it is one thing to look for.
Another problem could be related to your alternator regulator as a voltage change might also affect the gauge.
If you've got a digital multimeter use it to measure the resistance of the oil pressure sensor as you slowly increase the revs of the engine
(you'll need to remove the connectors attaching it to the loom obviously or you'll fry your DVM).
If you get a nice linear change in resistance the sensor's fine and the problem is with the dial or the alternator.
Get the DVM and measure the voltage across the dial (+ve and -ve) as you rev the engine if the voltage suddenly changes it's likely an alternator
(regulator) problem.
Thanks guys, but surely if the alternator was playing up all the gauges would be affected?
Am I correct in assuming that it is unlikely to be the pump or anything mechanical?
Cheers
Some gauges (Smith's in partcular) require a voltage regulator otherwise the readings go a bit daft with revs!
As Ben says, test your sender first.
Would a sticky oil pump bypass valve cause this problem?
7 bar is a long way up though...