Quality of different brands of gauges.

[VYMAD]

Hey guys, I'd like to install an oil pressure gauge in the VY V6.
What are some reasonable brands that are worth buying. I'm not after the top shelf, $150, gold plated ones with diamonds on the inside, just a good, reliable brand that is;

1. Accurate
2. Reliable
3. Will last

In other words, value for money, that will last for a good while.

A couple of brands I've seen are SAAS, Autometer, I think? Any others?

Just after some experienced advice on what to/what not to buy. Am after the electrical type. Is there a certain pressure range I need to buy?

Would also like to trouble ya's for some info on the 'T' piece I need to buy, as I'd like to leave the factory fitted sender and system connected. I've searched and found that I will most likely need to extend the wire to the existing sender unit.

Looks like I shall need a 'T' piece that has male thread to go into where the factory sender is, with a female thread on one end to take the factory sender and either male/female for the gauge, depending on what it is.

Will an auto parts store know the type and size of 'T' piece I need when I tell them it's Ecotec and they see the gauge I have?

The only experience I have with oil gauges is the old "oil in the cabin" type, fitted to 186red motors in HT's and the like, shows my age a little, eh?

Oh, and I'm assuming the factory sender unit is the one located directly in front of the oil filter, yeh? Thanks for help guys.

[ari666]

sweet! i stumbled across a brand called "pricol" they are aussie made (afaik) and supplied by redline. really high quality chrome and seems to be pin-point accurate. also very reasonably priced compared to brands like "autometer"




i have NFI what you are talking about with the T piece. generally, oil pressure is a single earthed line. if there is no oil pressure (no earth) the guage reads 0. if dead shorted to earth it reads full. so you just need to splice into the signal wire, then run a + a - and an illumination to the guage.

[Calaber]

deleted. (10)

[VYMAD]

The 't' piece is to allow the factory oil pressure light to still function, while enabling a reading to the new gauge.

Do I need to run a + accessories wire to the gauge sender, then from sender into the gauge?

As well as connecting the illumination wires?

[VYMAD]

ARI 666, in which store did you find the Pricol?

[ari666]

bursons. but you can buy them online from: Gauges | Hardiman


also, if you have a few dollars to spend, check out: VPW Performance Mailorder

and normally, the only wires are to the guage (+ and - and sender signal) the sender is a glorified resistor. the higher the pressure the lower the resistance, and the guage just shows you a resistance reading. if that makes sense.

[VYMAD]

So you don't need an accessories +ive feed to the sender by the sounds of that?

[ari666]

no. its just a resistor. so the base of the sender is earthed, and as the pressure increases/decreases it sends more/less resisted earth to the guage. power goes to the guage and it acts in basically the same way a multimeter does.

[rb26dett]

I have used Stewart Warner before and found them to be quite good.

[VYMAD]

I have used Stewart Warner before and found them to be quite good.

Are they dear?

[Blown V6 Hatch]

Autometer, always used them, never had a problem with them. I wouldn't use anything else.

[dirt drifter]

something im not 100% sure on, but u may want to clarify before installing..

if u want to run your new gauge sender wire to the existing sender check that the resistance range of the senders is the same.

cos say, 50 ohms resistance at the sender could make the factory gauge read 50psi and the new gauge read something else, the "ohms to psi" of your new gauge must be the same as the standard one or it wont be reading right

[VYMAD]

something im not 100% sure on, but u may want to clarify before installing..

if u want to run your new gauge sender wire to the existing sender check that the resistance range of the senders is the same.

cos say, 50 ohms resistance at the sender could make the factory gauge read 50psi and the new gauge read something else, the "ohms to psi" of your new gauge must be the same as the standard one or it wont be reading right

OK, can anyone give a definite answer to this?

I have found a Calibre brand in SCA catalogue for $49, save $21, are they any good?

Have also found a SAAS at Autobarn for $55, are they any good also?

And will these stores have the T piece and nipple if I need one in the right size, or should I go to the VDO store for them?

[greenacc]

I'd be looking at VDO for the whole setup, they are one of the better brands IMO.

[one_and_only2004]

I'll put in another vote for Autometer. Ever heard of prospec? I had an AFR gauge and boost gauge of theirs - absolute crap. The boost gauge somehow made the BOV's refuse to close - as soon as it was replaced with an autometer one everything worked fine. The old saying "you get what you pay for" managed to bite me once again.

[cracker]

found speco too be rubbish... boost gauges, oil pressure senders... dont bother.

import some autometers from the states cheap.

[dirt drifter]

^^^^^ spot on.

[axemurderer101]

you can find cheap brand new autometer gauges on ebay, i bought a 2 1/16 sport comp oil temp for under $70 an they usually retail for about $140

[ari666]

OK, can anyone give a definite answer to this?

yeah the definate answer is that he is correct. make sure they read the same resistance.

also, i bought an ebay vacuum guage once. it worked for about a month, then just threw false readings and got stuck at 5inhg. i know saas make cheap seats and cheap steering wheels, so i guess they make cheap guages. and calibre make CHEAP boss kits.

what i am getting at is cheap=bad in most cases.

[SS Manual]

I just installed some binnacles, wasn't a large enough adapter piece that would fit into the existing oil pressure thread in the block to run both sensors. Ordered an oil pressure sandwich plate which has four 1 / 8 th NPT threads. However this was on the gen 3, if you're going the adapter piece check the thread size on your engine oil pressure sensor cause only way I could have gone with that option was a custom piece made by pirtek or enzed.

Got my gauges from speedhut in the Usa. Oil pressure has an adjustable high and low warning light built into gauge. Good price and only $ 30 USD postage for a pair with with looms and sensors instructions etc.

[rb26dett]

Are they dear?

They are usually priced around the same as Autometer.

[ari666]

stewart warner:
VPW Performance Mailorder

top quality with the price to match

[neet_wagon]

Just buy some autometer gauges and be done with it.

I've had Speco, Drift/yumcha crap, and Autometer gauges.

All the others have died - but the Autometer ones are like the Terminator, they just keep coming back, even after some of them being in 3,4 or 5 different cars.

[VYMAD]

Thanks for the help, guys. I bought a Calibre brand and have the TEE piece ordered, so I'll go with it and let ya's know how it goes. Tee piece should come on tuesday, so sometime after then I'll have it up and hopefully running.

[ari666]

I bought a Calibre brand

*sigh* .