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| | | Oil Pressure Connection #682856 February 24th 2015 10:40 am | Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,080 Likes: 1 old hand | OP old hand Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,080 Likes: 1 | So, we are getting ready to hit the road again. I was finally tucking away all of the wiring I've been sorting through when I discovered a connector that looked like it should be together but it wasn't. A read of my FSM revealed that it was to tie the oil pressure gauge in with the oil light.
Although each have been working independently apparently someone had disconnected this link long before we received the van and I never realized it since it was tucked up tight behind the dash.
Anyway, I re-connected it and learned why it had been disconnected, it blinks constantly.
So... here's the thing. We've owned the van for at least four years now and best we know have not had a problem with oil pressure. Of course when I get a chance to test it I will but meanwhile...
Is there anything else that might could make that light blink constantly?
| | | Re: Oil Pressure Connection | Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 12,107 Likes: 37 Maniac | Maniac Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 12,107 Likes: 37 | The oil pressure "idiot light" is a simple on-off switch system. When oil pressure falls below a certain point (I forget what the factory sending unit pressure point is. Something in the neighborhood of 8 PSI if I recall) the contacts in the sending unit close and the circuit is completed and the light in the dash comes on.
The light is not supposed to blink. It will blink if the oil pressure is right at the point where each pulse from the oil pump provides enough pressure to open the the ground in the sending unit temporarily but the oil pressure is so low that the contacts close again and the light comes on.
Does is blink at all RPMs? Does it blink when the engine is cold and first started up? Your engine actually needs only about 10 PSI oil pressure per 1000 rpm, so oil pressure of less than 10 PSI at can be perfectly fine.
You definitely want to verify your oil pressure with a mechanical gauge when you get a chance. You can get them cheap at auto parts stores. You might ave a fine motor but a failed sending unit.
Windows- they're what make a van worth owning! | | | Re: Oil Pressure Connection | Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,080 Likes: 1 old hand | OP old hand Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,080 Likes: 1 | Thanks, Reed.
I do want to know the actual oil pressure and will grab a gauge at some point. Meanwhile, the pressure on our dash gauge has always been right at mid level or dropped a bit lower on a super warm day when we get to a stop light.
When I connected the wires to make the gauge and light work together and started the van (meaning it was cold) the light immediately was blinking even though the oil gauge itself showed its normal (midway) pressure reading.
Your theory of the pressure being right at the pulse point is interesting.
Also, I didn't let it run very long with the light connected since I wasn't sure what was happening. So, not sure if it changes with rmps or not.
Wondering if there is a way to test the sender?
| | | Re: Oil Pressure Connection | Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 12,107 Likes: 37 Maniac | Maniac Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 12,107 Likes: 37 | Interesting. If you have the rare gauge and light combination (most vans had one or the other), my guess is that youhave a failing sending unit for the light. Not really a way to test the sender other than hooking up a mechanical oil pressure gauge and seeing the PSI the light comes on at.
Windows- they're what make a van worth owning! | | | Re: Oil Pressure Connection | Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,080 Likes: 1 old hand | OP old hand Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,080 Likes: 1 | Well then, I guess I'll be getting a present this week :o)
Yes, we have the combination of the light and the gauge. I'd prefer the gauge to show the actual PSI but I'll deal with that at a later date.
For now, I simply want things working they way that they should be.
By the way, I'm thinking the sending unit is the bell'ish shaped part since it just has the one wire connector on top. Sort of confused as to what each part is.
Last edited by nikothenomad; February 24th 2015 2:39 pm.
| | | Re: Oil Pressure Connection | Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 12,107 Likes: 37 Maniac | Maniac Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 12,107 Likes: 37 | THe big gold bell is the sending unit for the gauge. The sending unit for the light is a small black an silver flying saucer shaped thing. It is on the same T fitting as the guage sending unit, but it should have three male electrical terminals coming out of it. The choke (+) wire is one of the lines that attach to the idot light sending unit.
Windows- they're what make a van worth owning! | | | Re: Oil Pressure Connection | Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,080 Likes: 1 old hand | OP old hand Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,080 Likes: 1 | Hmmm... I'm going to have to get in there and look again. | | | Re: Oil Pressure Connection | Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 12,107 Likes: 37 Maniac | Maniac Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 12,107 Likes: 37 | I will try and scan the pertinent pages out of my FSM.
Windows- they're what make a van worth owning! | | | Re: Oil Pressure Connection | Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,080 Likes: 1 old hand | OP old hand Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,080 Likes: 1 | Thanks. I've got some info in my FSM but it isn't really that clear. I'll look at it again.
Been thinking that since I want to eventually install a gauge that actually displays the pressure reading why not just do that instead of buying a tester. Essentially same thing only two for one... unless I'm missing something.
Can't quite figure out though why the gauges all go up so high when the pressure is typically pretty low?
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