Fitting AN OIL PRESSURE GAUGE VY V6

[Sean880]

Has anyone fitted a good quality oil pressure gauge in their VY V6 themselves?

1. If so can you recommend a good brand or brands?

2. What is involved in installing one of these as a stand alone (independently of standard factory gauges) especially the location point on the oil lines, wiring etc.?

Thanks

(I have done these before but only with the old style mechanical gauges which were very easy to set up).

GM and other manufacturers are great at fitting all kinds of electronic "do das" in their cars that few people need and then fail to include really basic engine monitoring items like an oil pressure gauge.

[VYMAD]

Sean, I have to agree mate. In the old Kingswoods, etc it was easy to do this. They came out from factory with a red light on the dash and by the time it lit up to tell the driver there was a problem the damage had usually already been done! I'm sorry I can't answer your question, but it's a good point and I, too would like to know what a good brand is and how easy/hard it would be to hook one up. I always installed them in my old Holdens so that I could monitor the oil pressure and not wait til the red light came on to tell me that my motor was now probably stuffed!

Edit: Oh yeah and it was the same with the temp light, lit up to tell you that your motor is now cooked!

[0081]

I fitted a Auto meter gauge to my vy v6.

I just fitted a T pice to where the orginal sender is and that was it all done.

[chargedvx6]

I fitted a Auto meter gauge to my vy v6.

I just fitted a T pice to where the orginal sender is and that was it all done.

Ditto. I used a VDO adapter and fitted my Autometer sender to the end of that. Thread tape on all the threads of course and Bob's your uncle!

There are 3 wires on the guage......Earth, power and sender signal. I just grabbed the earth n feed from the back of the fuse panel on a 7.5amp fuse related to the interior lighting circuit. This way the gauges light when the dash does.

[Sean880]

Thanks 81 and ChargedVX6

Both really helpful.

I had a look around today at the current sender /switch unit and what you have done definitely looks like the best option. I also notice that "Auto Meter" retail a range of mechanical oil pressure gauges which makes the fitting a whole lot easier so thanks for that.

Auto Meter

I just need to source the correct T piece for it so it all fits up properly. Also on my car the wiring to the existing sender unit fitted has very little play so there is not much scope for moving it about so I will need to hop under the car and check that out further.

Vymad - GM needs to get more real motoring people designing these aspects of their cars instead of people who only want to produce mobile lounge rooms and mobile entertainment studios across the product range. I really don't need a digital display to tell me what CD track I am playing, what FM station I am on, what the fan speed is, what the outside air temp is or how many kms of gas I have left at current consumption levels. Give me a decent oil pressure gauge and perhaps a water temp gauge that also displays the actual temperature in degrees. An decent ammeter would not astray either.

[ARATIC]

If you are going to tee into the oil pressure switch location, DONT use brass tee's, try and get stainless as brass will break sooner or later

Personally I'd go Electrical gauge, far easier and you dont have oil coming into the cabin

[vn_v6]

oil into cabin is nooo noooo, ever seen a car that had an interior mechanical gauge pop a hose?? gee his carpet smelled nice and coolanty, his jocks also smelled of skid marks when he dropped a turd after the line let loose, electrical is the way

[chargedvx6]

Yeah, electric is the way to go. I did cut and extend my OEM oil pressure sender wire to allow the T extension on the front of the oil filter housing. From memory the oil pressure switch thread is 1/4" - 18 NPT.

[0081]

If you are going to tee into the oil pressure switch location, DONT use brass tee's, try and get stainless as brass will break sooner or later

Personally I'd go Electrical gauge, far easier and you dont have oil coming into the cabin

What do you day that brass is very strong, your more likely to crack the sump i would say.


I have also seen an adaptor that goes were your oil filter sits and allowa you 2 or 3 points for things like oil pressure oil temp etc