I am using an XE and have been building for a long time (many years in fact) and have connected all oil plumbing etc recently. I have just started to turn over the engine but the oil gauge doesn't show any pressure. Now my wiring has been a challenge so it is possible that I have got it wrong and the pressure gauge is not working correctly. Alternatively the gauge might be working well and the oil is not getting pumped round.

How can I tell which is which?

If it siezes, it's the pump!

Sorry, couldn't resist it. I'll go now.

You have two options that spring to mind.

1. Fit a mechanical gauge as a temporary measure during this first firing stage. Probably in the engine bay?

2. Take the electrical gauge out of the dash, tape up the ends of the wires. Make a temporary harness for the gauge. 1 wire to earth, the chassis, 1 to the +ve (via a fuse) to the battery terminal and 1 to the sender.

HTH

Mike

P.S. Edited to say there is a third route, undo one of your connections a bit, where you think you should have high pressure and crank the engine, if you get a spray of oil you have some pressure?

[Edited on 18/12/07 by Guinness]

First off check that you have at least some oil flow, normally you can see or hear it from the oil filler cap.
The oil pressure sender is a simple earth leakage resistor, make sure the body of the switch is earthed. I had a problem with an oil temp take off and had to earth the body of it. The gauge has 3 wires, 1 to earth, 1 to power and 1 to sender, guage measures the difference between the 2 earths and the gauge moves.
Also check you have not used to much PTFE or sealer so that the sender cant get to earth.
If you gauge does not work then the original oil light should go out when sufficient oil pressure is reached, you just won't know how much.

Must learn to type quicker

[Edited on 18/12/07 by snapper]

take the oil presure switch out
turn the engine over without an coil lead on.

if no oil coming out no oil presure

and if you are starting it for the first time after rebuild you may need to prime the engine.
easy way is to use a bit of clear platic pipe in the oil pressure switch hole in the block and suck on the end of the pipe whilst u turn the engine over.
STOP SUCKING WHEN YOU SEE OIL COMING UP THE PIPE.

quote:

---

STOP SUCKING WHEN YOU SEE OIL COMING UP THE PIPE.

---

hmm tasty