Oil Pressure Guage

FIAFRED · #1 (**permalink**) 11-22-2001, 08:22 PM

Would someome be kind enough to tell me whats up with my oil guage readout? I hooked up the sending tube from the engine block to the back of the guage, but do not get a pressure reading. I know that I am circulating oil well through the cooler and system, cause the car is operating fine. Just need to know if I'm doing something wrong, or if it just takes time for the engine to force oil through the tube. I double checked to make sure that the tube is clear and oil will flow partially through. I only ran the engine for a couple of minutes, trying to get the guage reading. Help. please!!

Fred

Okiesnake · #2 (**permalink**) 11-22-2001, 09:22 PM

The only thing that comes to mind to me is that maybe there is not a good seal at either end of the pressure line or (though not likely) you have a bad pressure gauge. To troubleshoot, if you have a "Mighty Vac" vacuum pump (or some other brand of vacuum brake bleeder kit), it can be set to pump (as compared to vacuum). You could put the pump at end of the pressure line (the sending unit side) and see if you can confirm that the seal at the gauge and the gauge are indeed working properly.
Have you recently added a remote oil cooler? If you get the oil lines switched on the remote oil filter adaptor (the adaptor that goes where the original oil filter mounts to the engine block) you will get no pressure. (Not something you want to do.) Check the lines carefully.

Okiesnake · #3 (**permalink**) 11-22-2001, 10:06 PM

Sorry this pic is so dark (Just took it and its night time). Hopefully you can see how my oil lines are hooked up. I got my adaptor and oil cooler through Unique and maybe you too are using the same set up.
Also, where are you hooking up the pressue adaptor sending unit (although its not really a sending unit but rather a oil pressure fitting)?

Okiesnake · #4 (**permalink**) 11-22-2001, 10:10 PM

Here is a pic of my oil pressure fitting connection (sending unit).

FIAFRED · #5 (**permalink**) 11-23-2001, 01:00 AM

Okiesnake,

Thanks for the pictures. I did hook up the oil pressure line to the correct opening on the engine block. I am going to double check the flow direction through the oil cooler first thing in the morning. I could be wrong, but I thought that I checked it according to Alan, at Unique, by removing the oil temp sensor nut on top of the remote oil filter, (disconnecting the coil wire) and turning over the engine until oil ran out of the sensor port. I'll let you know about the lines when I check them in the AM. Thanks,

Fred

Okiesnake · #6 (**permalink**) 11-23-2001, 06:23 AM

If you have the same adaptor set up that I do then the rear line from the engine is going to the “IN” port of the remote oil filter adaptor.
Something else to check;
Check the adaptor that goes on the engine block. The brass looking sleeve that goes inside the black housing must be rotated in the correct position to insure proper oil flow. before installing, I marked the outside of the large hexagonal brass looking bolt when the sleeve is in the correct position. I marked this position so that it was pointing to the center of the “in” and “out” holes of the black housing.

FIAFRED · #7 (**permalink**) 11-23-2001, 06:46 AM

Okie,

Couldn't sleep last night, so I checked the oil direction flow. Go figure...backwards. Alan, at Unique told me that the bottom hose on the adaptor went to the filter and the top went to the oil cooler. It must of been how each of us was looking at it. Anyway, reversed the lines and now have 55lb of pressure at cold idle. Hope it didn't destroy my new engine with the lines resversed during the initial trial operation. Thanks, much!

Fred

Okiesnake · #8 (**permalink**) 11-23-2001, 08:09 AM

Did you get your motor through Southern Automotive? They use 20W50 weight oil. It’s pretty clingy and as long as you didn't run it too long, I doubt any damage was done. The oil filter listed in Unique's build manual (or at least when I built mine) was a small Puralator filter. They list it because if you are not using a remote filter, that’s the only filter that will clear the frame. I would recomend using Ford Racing's FL1-HP (I think that’s the correct part #). I bought mine through the local Ford dealer. You can see a pic of my filter set up on one of the Dick Flesher's posts Will exhaust pipe work as a radiator hose? . Having the lines hooked up wrong may have damaged the inner seals of the oil filter. Oil will still flow but may not completely filter all of the oil correctly (i.e. not damage anything in the short term but by not properly filtering could cause damage in the long run). Therefore I would recommend replacing the filter now. You might also consider replacing the oil now if you think its viscosity might have been compromised from the short term of improper oil flow.

Okiesnake · #9 (**permalink**) 11-23-2001, 08:19 AM

I'm not so sure that oil flowing from the removed the temp sensor on the remote oil filter adaptor is the best test that the oil lines are hooked up correctly. I think it might be possible that some oil might still flow through the removed plug hole.

FIAFRED · #10 (**permalink**) 11-23-2001, 08:46 PM

Okie,

Thanks for the follow up info. You are right on target with the filter and checking flow from the sensor opening(it's not the right place to check it, there may be sufficient pressure at that port to pump oil, regardless of flow direction; I am a case in point). Anyway, my son and I made the trip to the Turkey Run in Daytona today. The drive was fantastic in my new FIA. Got up with Alan and Maurice. Mentioned to them that I was talking with you, and expressed regards. Alan enjoyed my build, especially the color scheme and paint work. I finally think I'm on the right track(no pun intended) with understanding how to appreciate my car, and what it requires. Given that, this Southern Automotive/Unique was born to run. What fun!! Thanks again for your prompt help and excellent suggestions.

Fred