Install oil pressure gage

[coff52]

How do you install an oil pressure gage. I have a 1968 Ford 2000 3 cyl. gas tractor. I would rather have the gage than the idiot light. I would like to know what the pressure is rather than have the light come on and tell me there is a problem which might be to late.

 

[Jerry/MT]

Put a "T" fitting where the idoiot light sending unit is and then get a oil pressure gauge kit. It will tap one leg of the "T" with a plastic tube that will run to a gauge to read your oil pressure.

 

[awhtx]

Buy a mechanical style Oil Pressure gauge with tubing. Remove the Oil Pressure sending unit from the side of the engine block. Install a fitting in the threaded hole (I think it's 1/4" NPT) that will adapt from tapered pipe thread to tubing. This fitting should be included with the new gauge. Cut a 2-1/16" hole in your dash panel. Install the gauge in the hole. Connect the tubing from the engine block fitting to the gauge.

 

[sotxbill]

usually the cheap oil pressure line will crack and leak and destroy the engine.

But to each, his own.

 

[millman52]

(reply to post at 20:16:33 10/13/11)

I just installed one on a friends 1971 3 cyl gas engine. It is 1/4" NPT located in front of the oil filter & to the rear of the power steering pump, if it has power steering. Cut a hole & dash mount if you wish, I prefer not to modify my sheet metal if I can avoid it.

You'll need a 100# gauge as the 158 engine is supposed to hold around 70#. I perferr a 270 degree sweep dial.

Good Luck

 

[Tom in TN]

coff52,

I can't tell you how TO do it, but I am well versed in how NOT to do it.

I removed the sending unit from the block, installed a short iron pipe nipple, and mounted the mechanical oil pressure gauge on the nipple. I was so proud of myself. Then I bush hogged some high weeds. Within about three minutes the gauge was broken. It didn't break in such a way that it leaked oil, but the bezel and gauge were destroyed.

I put the idiot light sender back in and haven't messed with it since. But then again, that was only about three years ago.

Tom in TN

 

[souNdguy]

i've used the T idea on a continental red seal engine at work was/is in a power unit. now has gauge and idiot lamp..

just keep brush away from it..

soundguy

 

[Phil Rennegarbe]

I would caution against using plastic line, and would suggest metal line instead. I have seen the plastic lines split and spray hot oil everywhere!

 

[Dave in MS]

(reply to post at 00:53:31 10/15/11)

ot a boot full of hot oil when the plastic oil line blew on our dragster. That was 1965. Been using metal tubing ever since.

 

[oldtanker]

I replaced a cracked plastic line on the after market mechanical gague on my 1206 this spring. I went into NAPA and ordered the copper line for it. The copper line was cheaper than the plastic.....go figure???

Rick

 

[RodinNS]

Personally I would leave the light in it and forget about the gauge... but if you must have a gauge... put a pipe nipple in the block, then a 'T'... then thread the gauge's pressure line in one side and PUT THE SENDER BACK in the other side of the 'T'. I can promise you right now that the flickering red light will grab your attention a lot quicker than trying to distinguish between 5 and 10 # pressure at idle when that fatefull day does arrive. Particularly if it happens at night when you can hardly see the tiny graduations on those pissant 2" gauges. I'm not saying the gauge is a bad thing to have necessarly... and if the light did come on for some reason you'd certainly want to verify the pressure at that point... but I've generally prefered to install a gauge as needed for that purpose.

Rod

 

[millman52]

I agree that the warning light is probably the best attention grabber. especially if something suddenly causes OP to drop. Personally I like both. I like to monitor my gauges, if for nothing else early warning of an impending problem