Engine external oil pressure gauge

[swinny]

Just wondering if anyone can recommend an external oil pressure gauge they trust or use fitted to their diesel engine. 

 

I have an engine on a machine and like to keep an eye on the oil pressure. The gauge has recently been messing about. It's a mechanical gauge and supplied from the sensor hole on the block via a tiny copper line... maybe 2mm internal diameter. 

 

It's been reading low recently and I took the pipe off whilst engine warm and on idle, not much oil coming out tbh.... took it off at the block and blew through with an air compressor, I do believe there could have been an obstruction in the line with the way it blew out. Tested the gauge with the airline and needle works fine. 

 

Put it back together, ran the machine which went up to 20psi (engine warm) then at idle was still suffering!

 

Took the pipe off at the block again and put a little bottle in front. Started the engine up and it near enough filled the bottle in 3-4 seconds!

 

I'm hoping that there is just an issue with this crappy little copper pipe and gauge!

 

Anyone recommend an oil pressure gauge I can replace with? Don't mind if either electrical or mechanical as long as they work. 

 

Oil filter ordered up aswell to change engine oil. 

 

Cheers all 👍 

[woody paul]

Smiths gauges were always known as the best don't know what they are like now. 

[aspenarb]

13 hours ago, swinny said:

Just wondering if anyone can recommend an external oil pressure gauge they trust or use fitted to their diesel engine. 

 

I have an engine on a machine and like to keep an eye on the oil pressure. The gauge has recently been messing about. It's a mechanical gauge and supplied from the sensor hole on the block via a tiny copper line... maybe 2mm internal diameter. 

 

It's been reading low recently and I took the pipe off whilst engine warm and on idle, not much oil coming out tbh.... took it off at the block and blew through with an air compressor, I do believe there could have been an obstruction in the line with the way it blew out. Tested the gauge with the airline and needle works fine. 

 

Put it back together, ran the machine which went up to 20psi (engine warm) then at idle was still suffering!

 

 

 

What you have is most likely telling the truth Chris.I would throw the money at an oil pressure test kit before I swapped gauges about, always a useful addition to a tool kit. 

 

Bob

[openspaceman]

2 hours ago, aspenarb said:

 

What you have is most likely telling the truth Chris.I would throw the money at an oil pressure test kit before I swapped gauges about, always a useful addition to a tool kit. 

 

Bob

 

Yes and move up a grade of oil to something like 15-40 if it a modern engine where a 5-30 is the norm. thin oils are only for fuel economy not engine longevity

[Bill C]

Second a oil pressure test kit test the engine and then change the oil and filter and retest. Also pressure is not the be all and end all, the volume of oil is more important.

[GarethM]

What engine is it on, tractors for tend to breath a little, if they're not leaking they aren't running so anything similar to a land rover style marking it's territory i wouldn't be worried.

 

It can also be a sign of the turbo leaking and putting pressure back into the engine.

[swinny]

8 hours ago, aspenarb said:

 

What you have is most likely telling the truth Chris.I would throw the money at an oil pressure test kit before I swapped gauges about, always a useful addition to a tool kit. 

 

Bob

Will get one ordered up Bob thanks. 

 

Neighbour had a clock/ gauge and I screwed that directly into the block. From cold bang straight up to 45 psi.... more than the one I have fitted ever showed... that only ever got to 30psi and shook like mad. 

 

After running mid revs for 15-20 mins was sat at 35psi on idle. Not as hot as when chipping but gave me confidence that engines not kaput just yet. As I said it filled that little bottle pronto!

 

I have a hyd system test kit but didn't go low enough psi! Will get a kit ordered and see if I can feed it behind the panel and refit panel as its an air cool engine. Will take it to yard and flog it for a bit and check pressures