Oil pressure gauge question

[ErnieThe02]

Well, I just got lucky.

I had noticed some fluid in the tray of the center console directly underneath the heater box.   (Very minor, originally thought it was armor all dribbled there by the previous owner.  I cleaned if off and it came back.

Since my blower fan is screeching like crazy I’m pulling the heater box out to replace the fan and assumed that I had a bad heater core leak causing the fluid film.

While disassembling the center console I found it was actually coming from the back of the oil pressure gauge. 

I can get that sealed up easily but my question is….

If sealed properly should the oil pressure tube be air filled or oil filled?   
 

Thanks for any inout.

[Son of Marty]

It makes no difference, remember pressure in a closed container (and your dead ended gauge qualifies) will be equal.

[ErnieThe02]

13 minutes ago, Son of Marty said:

It makes no difference, remember pressure in a closed container (and your dead ended gauge qualifies) will be equal.

Thank you sir!

[Rich]

what are your other two gagues ?

[ErnieThe02]

58 minutes ago, Rich said:

what are your other two gagues ?

Volts left

Oil pressure center

clock right

 

[jimk]

Get an electric gauge and sleep at night.

[Einspritz]

I hate electric gauges, they're really inaccurate and you can't get the sweep that you can in a manual gauge.

 

That said, air in the line acts as a buffer dampening it a bit. Otherwise the needle will vibrate, particularly at low idle..... If it judders then the air has bled out. That happens maybe every 50K miles or so.

 

I may still have one in the toolbox, I can throw it in your neighbor's pool if you like.

[Son of Marty]

2 minutes ago, Einspritz said:

I hate electric gauges, they're really inaccurate

Makes you wonder how the space shuttle ever got off the ground. The two things I like about electric gauges are no hot or flammable liquids in the cockpit and they can be pegged with out damage. 

[Einspritz]

Gee, 420K and no problem.

 

Everyone loves a different flavor.

['76mintgrün'02]

I should probably fix my leaker too.  I gave the plastic tube a little stretch to straighten it out and that may have thinned it.  Is the little brass crimp fitting in the joint reusable?  Can I just shorten the tube and try again, or do I need to make or buy a new little brass piece? 

 

 

I've just been emptying the Altoids tin every four months or so.   

[Son of Marty]

The little brass bit can be saved by cutting the tube and then carefully cutting the bit of plastic out of the ring and reinstalling and your good.

[Hans]

How does the air bleed out?

[John76]

10 hours ago, Einspritz said:

Gee, 420K and no problem.

Me too!

This was the first thing I installed shortly after I bought my car in 1976.

48 years and 143k miles later... never a leak, weep, or seep.

11 hours ago, Einspritz said:

you can't get the sweep that you can in a manual gauge.

My biggest reason for using a mechanical gauge. 270-degree needle sweep for 0-100 psi is so easy to read.

BTW: If your oil pump pressure relief valve is functioning as designed, you should not get anywhere close to 100 psi.

If you do, you'll blow the oil filter gasket long before the gauge or tube explodes in the cockpit. 

 

John

 

 

 

[TobyB]

Sure, if you spend Space Shuttle money, you'll get a reliable gauge.   But for us mere mortals, 

who were ok with a blinkinlight up until we weren't, a mechanical gauge gives peace of mind

without hole in wallet.  

I tend to spend as much on some stainless jacketted nylon tubing as I do on the gauge...

 

I also  use mechanical temperature gauges in raceycars, too- sweep, sweep, reliability.

 

But I old.

 

t

would have used these if they'd been around last time he bought a new gauge.

SMi™ Elite Waterproof Gauges

WWW.LONGACRERACING.COM

 

[John76]

1 hour ago, TobyB said:

But I old.

Yeh Toby, but you also be wise.