Mechanical oil presure gauge

[pimms]

Has anyone experience in connecting a mechanical oil pressure gauge? Mine has a thin black plastic tube, should this be filled up with oil all the way up to the gauge?

Thanks

[Sptwoman]

Pim, That's how mine used to work in the 70's / 80's. Mine was a clear tube though so you could see the oil running up the tube on start up!!

[mudhut]

No need to fill the tube. The increasing oil pressure force some oil up the tube and this will compress any trapped air. The pressure will be the same throughout the tubing and the gauge will show this.

[Sptwoman]

Peter, I wasn't inferring that the tube had to be filled. I just remember seeing the oil forced up the tube on start up.

[mudhut]

I didn't make this at all clear Allen.

I was answering Pim's query but I think that I misinterpreted it. When he said "should this be filled up..." I took it to mean "should he fill it up". Looking at it again, I think he meant "should this become filled" (by the pressure of the oil).

Looks like I've caused confusion instead of reducing it. Sorry chaps - I'll get me coat!

[pimms]

I didn't make this at all clear Allen.

I was answering Pim's query but I think that I misinterpreted it. When he said "should this be filled up..." I took it to mean "should he fill it up". Looking at it again, I think he meant "should this become filled" (by the pressure of the oil).

Looks like I've caused confusion instead of reducing it. Sorry chaps - I'll get me coat!

Thanks Peter, Allen,
I did mean filling it when fitting the gauge, but as i understand there is no need for that. Just what i needed to know :)

Cheers

[Sando]

Has anyone experience in connecting a mechanical oil pressure gauge? Mine has a thin black plastic tube, should this be filled up with oil all the way up to the gauge?

Thanks


Hi Pim
Perhaps 'Bernard' can comment. :) My experience was seeing his car engulfed in clouds of oil and smoke when the pipe burst in the engine bay on the Motorway at 80mph and could have so easily burst into flames or even spayed 100 degree oil into the cabin. :eek:.... Which my son had just been in on the way out to the show we went to.......
I'm sure up until that point it had been very accurate though :rolleyes: :D

Maybe you could use metal pipe or braided pipe (and always should be in the cabin anyway) I'm sure it was a one off,..... but it's not for me.

cheers
Rob

[pimms]

Hi Pim
Perhaps 'Bernard' can comment. :) My experience was seeing his car engulfed in clouds of oil and smoke when the pipe burst in the engine bay on the Motorway at 80mph and could have so easily burst into flames or even spayed 100 degree oil into the cabin. :eek:.... Which my son had just been in on the way out to the show we went to.......
I'm sure up until that point it had been very accurate though :rolleyes: :D

Maybe you could use metal pipe or braided pipe (and always should be in the cabin anyway) I'm sure it was a one off,..... but it's not for me.

cheers
Rob

Thanks for the warning Rob, i'll keep that in mind. I might use some copper pipe then :o

[Swamprat33]

Hi Pimms, Just a word of caution, if you choose copper pipe.

I had a mechanical oil pressure gauge in a mini in the early eighties. This was installed with a copper pipe. Unfortunately, i had a small electrical fire behind the dash as the copper tube earthed against the bulkhead. I ended up wrapping the tube with insulating tape to stop it happening again.

I assume it was the illumintion for the gauge that caused the problem.

Could have been much worse.

Tim