Oil pressure gauge goes to zero

[gkent]

I hear the nightmare stories of leakage.

Only if they're installed poorly !!

 

[WileE]

Another mod we would often do back in the day was install an aftermarket gauge pod under the dash. Which I have in one of my cars now. The first would be a mechanical oil pressure gauge. Do not use a plastic hose, use a metal-copper hose.

 

[toolmanmike]

Another mod we would often do back in the day was install an aftermarket gauge pod under the dash. Which I have in one of my cars now. The first would be a mechanical oil pressure gauge. Do not use a plastic hose, use a metal-copper hose.

and a rubber grommet where it comes through the hole in the firewall.

 

[Dave6T4]

I also plumbed one into the extra hole at the rear of the engine. This tee's off to a gauge under the dash. With the air cleaner on, it is pretty well hidden.

 

[gkent]

Do not use a plastic hose, use a metal-copper hose.

I would advise just the opposite. Copper has no resilence. Vibration will cause it to crack, break and spew oil all over. While you can't bend to shape like the copper, the plastic will withstand more punishment than the copper. Either way, you still need a grommet to pass through a firewall. Your call.

 

[Fran Blacker]

Put my plastic oil pressure line on in 1978 still there.

 

[RemCharger]

Plastic oil lines are not allowed in the NHRA.

 

[gkent]

Plastic oil lines are not allowed in the NHRA.

I'm gonna hazard a guess that neither are copper! I suspect for any mechanical gauge with fluid in it you'd need a braided line. HOWEVER, I can attest to the fact that unless you're at a BIG NHRA event, nobody is even gonna look under the hood !!

 

[RemCharger]

You hazard wrong. Copper and braided are completely acceptable. If you want to skirt the rules while no one is watching, fine. Just don't kill someone doing it. Please.

 

[WileE]

I would advise just the opposite. Copper has no resilence. Vibration will cause it to crack, break and spew oil all over. While you can't bend to shape like the copper, the plastic will withstand more punishment than the copper. Either way, you still need a grommet to pass through a firewall. Your call.

Nope. Have you ever actually installed a mech oil pressure gauge ? On your, or a customers, car ? I'd like to know where vibration will cause the copper line to crack and break. I wonder if you know what to do to avoid that condition.

 

[padam]

Nope. Have you ever actually installed a mech oil pressure gauge ? On your, or a customers, car ? I'd like to know where vibration will cause the copper line to crack and break. I wonder if you know what to do to avoid that condition.

I have never used copper line on a car.
But we used to use it for coolant lines on machine tools. I have personally seen it fracture due to vibration from chatter.

 

[WileE]

I have never used copper line on a car.
But we used to use it for coolant lines on machine tools. I have personally seen it fracture due to vibration from chatter.

We're discussing an oil feed line for a gauge on a car, not machine tools.

 

[padam]

We're discussing an oil feed line for a gauge on a car, not machine tools.

I realize that, but if vibration can crack a copper line, why would you want it on your car. There will be vibrations.

 

[WileE]

I realize that, but if vibration can crack a copper line, why would you want it on your car. There will be vibrations.

Not if you install the proper way, there's a method.

 

[Dave6T4]

My under dash gauge came with a nylon tube, so I installed it that way. It leaked, so I replaced that tube with a copper one. So far, it has not leaked. I believe a couple of small coils can be wound into it to absorb any potential vibrations

 

[oldbee]

Put my plastic oil pressure line on in 1978 still there.

Same as Fran, just run along with main wire harness & thru a grommet.

 

[padam]

Where have you ever seen copper line installed on a factory car? I will agree they also don’t use plastic tubing, but why would quality gauges come with nylon if it wasn’t safe?

If you want an upgrade from plastic, use braided.

 

[Bleep Bleep]

I also plumbed one into the extra hole at the rear of the engine. This tee's off to a gauge under the dash. With the air cleaner on, it is pretty well hidden.

View attachment 1907941

I like it. Did you fab the piece or just off the Home Depot shelf. There is zero drivetrain chatter at all. It purrs like a (badass) kitten. While I’m ‘almost’ totally confident there’s pressure there, I can’t know at what pressure which is a concern. So your belts and suspenders is a help. Btw, what guage is that?

All, I may ultimately go mechanical but at this point I prefer not to run underway gauges. Only factory looks aesthetics.

 

[Dave6T4]

I picked up everything at the local TSC store. I once had a 383 that would pop the red light on as the engine idled down. Rev it up, and the oil light went off. The pressure relief valve in the pump had stuck open. The valve is easily removed from its bore for cleaning, by unscrewing the plug from the back of the pump.

 

[padam]

Plastic oil lines are not allowed in the NHRA.

I looked thru the rule book.
The only references I could find were for oil system lines for Top Fuel / Funny Car