whats the oil guage actually tell me?

[lparsons]

This is probably a stupid question, and maybe even one I'd find the answer to in the Haynes manual (if I ever read it). But one does the stock oil gague actually represent?
Oil pressure?
Oil volume?
Oil temperature?
Oil flavor?
There's only a L, normal, and H range. I think it could be applied to any of these and more...

 

[revhead347]

It represents Oil Pressure. Keep in mind though that the actual gauge is volt gauge. It measures voltage from the pressure sender on the engine. Initial voltage to the sender will effect the pressure indicated on the gauge. Higher initial voltage will lead to a lower oil pressure reading. As long as you have "R" lbs of pressure, you are good.

Kurt

 

[wytstang]

Exactly what he said.^

 

[RedHot91GT]

It represents Oil Pressure. Keep in mind though that the actual gauge is volt gauge. It measures voltage from the pressure sender on the engine. Initial voltage to the sender will effect the pressure indicated on the gauge. Higher initial voltage will lead to a lower oil pressure reading. As long as you have "R" lbs of pressure, you are good.

Kurt

yup i think thats dead on... This is why some people like mechanical gauges better..

 

[HazMat404]

so mine always being on the N-O isnt really that good??

 

[1105]

Just think of it this way... if you're getting a reading on your stock gauge, you're getting oil to your engine. Its just a dummy gauge. If it shows a reading, you're getting oil. Basically the same for the coolant temp

 

[revhead347]

N-O lbs of pressure is really good for a stock oil pump. If you have a high volume, it shouldn't read any lower than L.

Kurt

 

[RacerRick]

Revhead is right , sorry 1105 but its not like a dummy light that i read about all the time on this forum. it is proportional to the votage it reads, not on/off!

 

[SN95StangMan]

Mine is always at the A in NORMAL. I thought it was a dummy guage too.

 

[GTPhreak]

it turns on at 6psi...its a dummy gauge

 

[Rootus]

As said multiple times, it's a dummy gauge. First, the oil pressure sending unit is also just a switch, and activates at 6 psi. Second, the wiring in the cluster is setup to only accept discrete input to the oil pressure gauge. There were a few Cobra clusters in 96 IIRC that could be modified to accept analog input from a real oil pressure sender (and a few even came that way from the factory).

If you see the gauge moving, it's because you have an electrical problem somewhere and you should start checking for broken grounds.

Dave

 

[Joe 5.0]

I agree that the oil guage is a dummy guage, but the coolant temp is not. Mine gets noticeably hotter when I track the car (road course) or when its 90*+ and humd and I'm sitting in traffic.

 

[91LX_5L]

so should i worry if mines at the O in normal?

 

[JJ95GTID]

If the needle is not moving around after initial start_up (and in the "NORMAL") then you are okay with oil pressure. If it is jumping around while you are driving then you have a voltage issue between the sender and the gauge.

 

[HISSIN50]

i think the best way to describe the stock gauges is that they are hysteretic.

 

[revhead347]

I have taken the stock sender apart (by accident). It's not just a switch, it's a slide on a resistor. I have noticed a difference in the gauge too. I have both the stock gauge and a mechanical one. When I went from a stock motor, it read 'R' at around 40 psi, and now it reads 'L' at around 60 psi. It's not just a dummy gauge.

Kurt

 

[madams74]

A

 

[Rootus]

My gauge reads dead center when I have 10 psi. It also reads dead center when I have 60 psi. The oil pressure gauge is every bit as functional as the TPS is adjustable.

 

[BlueOvalStangGT]

HAHAH oil flavor, that would be awesome. "Ahhh ****, my oil tastes like meatlof, I better pull over"

 

[revhead347]

HAHAH oil flavor, that would be awesome. "Ahhh ****, my oil tastes like meatlof, I better pull over"