Fitting an oil pressure sensor to EA81

RatCamper · Post by **RatCamper** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 9:47 am

G'day. I think this falls in this section more then electrical, because what I want to know how to do is the mechanical part.

What I want to know is what is the best way to fit an electronic oil pressure sender and have an idiot light still? Also what is the correct dia. and thread for whatever? tapered or not?

Looking at the setup, perhaps one of those adapters made out of hexagonal bar with a hole on both ends and one on the side, or are there sender / switches that are small enough to fit without interference?

I'm asking because I'm sure this is a well travelled path and I don't want to go reinventing the wheel.

Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

Post by **TOONGA** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 10:09 am

A simple solution is a T piece that fits into the sender hole and allows the orginal electrica devicel and a mechanical device to both run from the same pressure point.

Bennie did it to his EJ22 install and eventually I will do it to my vortex (if I ever get to fly out of Karratha again)

TOONGA

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 10:19 am

I thought the oil pumps have more than one bung hole.

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 11:22 am

They do Gannon but some are the drain back plugs, so best to use a tee fitting where the oil pressure sender unit is.

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 11:33 am

TOONGA wrote:Bennie did it to his EJ22 install

Don't worry about all that oil, my line split at a joint I put in it for easy engine removal etc, it came loose and sprayed oil all over the engine bay. Not fun!

That setup is neat and tidy and fits in well which was most important. It doesn't leak either

Always a bonus. And access is easy if you ever want to remove it.

Cheers

Bennie

RatCamper · Post by **RatCamper** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 11:37 am

Gannon wrote:I thought the oil pumps have more than one bung hole.

Well, it looks like there is. But the second one's position is pretty useless.

Post by **TOONGA** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 11:38 am

Thats the one Bennie where did you get the T piece from.

TOONGA

RatCamper · Post by **RatCamper** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 11:40 am

I should refresh before I reply. Didn't see those useful replies. Sorry! However it looks like the sender is in a completely different location. I'm not sure a "T" would fit in there. But, those long adapters i mentioned might fit if the thread is right. i saw them at the VDO shop last year or so. I've already got a gauge and the wiring waiting for this. It should also tell me a bit more about this POS motor.

incidentally it doesn't seem to be smoking recently. I have no idea why. I'm not questioning it.

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 11:42 am

A marine store.

And I'm sorry RatCamper, I didn't realise it was for an EA81. Even getting a T piece in there is going to be difficult!

You might need to get a 90 bend so that you can screw the T piece into that - otherwise it looks like you'll have to remove the oil pump to fit the T piece - that'd be a PITA.

Cheers

Bennie

Post by **TOONGA** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 11:46 am

RatCamper wrote:

Well, it looks like there is. But the second one's position is pretty useless.

there is a bung in the bottom that the sender for the dash switch goes into.

thats what the MY touring wagons have

TOONGA

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 11:46 am

El_Freddo wrote:

Don't worry about all that oil, my line split at a joint I put in it for easy engine removal etc, it came loose and sprayed oil all over the engine bay. Not fun!

Isn't that just anti-rusting agent

RatCamper wrote:

Well, it looks like there is. But the second one's position is pretty useless.

hahaha.. looks like you took this pic whilst the engine was running.. very courageous

RatCamper · Post by **RatCamper** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 12:18 pm

i just went to look again. There is a bung at the bottom near the oil filter. is that the one? I couldn't see another one.

Yes I took the photo with the motor running. It was already running to let the battery charge and to dry things out.

Post by **TOONGA** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 1:03 pm

I'm sure it is the one but if you want to take a picture to confirm (turn the motor off

) I can give you a definite answer.

TOONGA

RatCamper · Post by **RatCamper** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 6:10 am

Here's a photo. Over on the bottom.

RatCamper · Post by **RatCamper** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 11:17 am

anyone?

Anyway I just dug up the remains of the pressure sender from the Magna, bodged it to the pressure gauge I have, applied power and some pressure from the compressor. Just deadheading it caused the sender to fly off from the hose quite spectacularly, but sitting the air gun in the other end of the hose a bit more loosely and allowing some bleed sort of prevented the sender launching. Like that it read roughly 250kpa, and with no pressure it reads roughly 0kpa so I think that by some fluke I might actually have a compatible pressure sender here.

like always the sender is huge, so what would be the best way to go about this? By the way it's only a single wire one so no integrated idiot light. I'd like to keep that functional though in case I decide to drop the tach. relay for a simpler oil pressure based power feed kill.

RatCamper · Post by **RatCamper** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 12:11 pm

no...wait. that's totally wrong. fffffff

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 12:05 am

Nothing wrong with getting something made to tap into the oil pump and run a steel braided line up on to the block where access is easier for mounting an idiot light switch and gauge sender. I am thinking of doing just that with a gauge I bought a long time ago and found same T piece not a good candidate down there

Post by **TOONGA** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 7:26 am

RatCamper wrote:

Here's a photo. Over on the bottom.

thats the bung that the touring wagons use.

TOONGA

RatCamper · Post by **RatCamper** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 12:55 pm

What thread does the bung have on it?

Where mine is I could happily use a T piece of sorts. Well, it's not a T but a bit of hex bar with a male threaded piece on one end, a threaded hole on the other and a threaded hole in one side so it'd screw in easily. As long as the side hole is facing the right way the pressure sender could fit in that and the idiot light sender in the end.