Guages is it True
03-13-2007, 08:10 PM
#11
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: On your six, 1.2nm... and I have tone!
Posts: 455
RE: Guages is it True
ORIGINAL: mtusrsmith
That would be a pressure switch. The oil pump has one, the cooling system doesn't...
If the engine temperature did have a 'switch', it would always point to the same place on the guage (like the oil pressure does). Don't be alarmed, Ford has been doing this on their oil pumps for years... Flame if you must, but of all the problems I've had with my Ford cars and trucks, oil systems haven't been to blame.
That would be a pressure switch. The oil pump has one, the cooling system doesn't...
If the engine temperature did have a 'switch', it would always point to the same place on the guage (like the oil pressure does). Don't be alarmed, Ford has been doing this on their oil pumps for years... Flame if you must, but of all the problems I've had with my Ford cars and trucks, oil systems haven't been to blame.
As to whether or not we need real working pressure gauges, that's debatable. Have I ever had a Ford engine suddenly and catastrophically lose pressure? Nope. That said I put a real working Autometer oil pressure sender and gauge in my Marauder and it's nice to be able to monitor it. I probably will not do the same for my Mustang, but you never know. I may get bored some Sunday afternoon.
09-27-2007, 08:32 PM
#12
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 573
RE: Guages is it True
I was thinking about this gauge vs. idiot light topic during a long drive.
So is it true to say the temp gauge IS a real gauge, just with no numbers on it? Because it sure seems to be more than just an on/off idiot light, the way it behaves.
Sleeper2
So is it true to say the temp gauge IS a real gauge, just with no numbers on it? Because it sure seems to be more than just an on/off idiot light, the way it behaves.
Sleeper2
09-27-2007, 09:43 PM
#13
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location:
Posts: 474
RE: Guages is it True
you will not build excess oil pressure on cold start up to 90 or 100 psi because your oil pump has a pressure relief valve. if not it would blow the seems apart on your oil filter. that is why your guage doesnt appear to vary. they are pumping enough volume and pressure to keep it maxed out even when the engine is warm
09-27-2007, 11:23 PM
#15
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location:
Posts: 864
RE: Guages is it True
I have a proper aftermarket oil pressure gauge in mine and it does read higher when cold and at higher rpms. The stock oil gauge is driven by a simple on/off switch that closes the contacts in the presence of "some" oil pressure. I know this to be fact because I checked using an ohm meter on the stock sender to learn this.
The stock oil gauge in these cars reads exactly the same as long as there is some oil pressure. It reads the same no matter if the pressure is 10 psi or 60 psi you get the same reading. This is why I installed an aftermarket gauge and coresponding sender that reads actual pressure.
It is true there is a pressue relief valve that will keep the oil pressure in the engine from exceeding a certain level but as long as the pressure is below that point it is not regulated.
The same goes for the stock temperature gauge. It reads the same regardless of temperature. You could be running 130 or 230 the stock gauge reads the same.
I also have an aftermarket guage for temperature and it also behaves much differently than the stock gauge. I can see my coolant fan cycle with it but I don't see that on the stock gauge.
As someone else idicated, the stock gauges are idiot guages only. They will only show different readings if parameters go beyond a certain range but as long as the pressure and temps are within that range you see exactly the same readings.
The stock oil gauge in these cars reads exactly the same as long as there is some oil pressure. It reads the same no matter if the pressure is 10 psi or 60 psi you get the same reading. This is why I installed an aftermarket gauge and coresponding sender that reads actual pressure.
It is true there is a pressue relief valve that will keep the oil pressure in the engine from exceeding a certain level but as long as the pressure is below that point it is not regulated.
The same goes for the stock temperature gauge. It reads the same regardless of temperature. You could be running 130 or 230 the stock gauge reads the same.
I also have an aftermarket guage for temperature and it also behaves much differently than the stock gauge. I can see my coolant fan cycle with it but I don't see that on the stock gauge.
As someone else idicated, the stock gauges are idiot guages only. They will only show different readings if parameters go beyond a certain range but as long as the pressure and temps are within that range you see exactly the same readings.
09-28-2007, 04:52 AM
#16
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location:
Posts: 700
RE: Guages is it True
I installed an aftermarket oil pressure gauge a while back. I might have done temperature, too, but oil was easier in my opinion. The stock temperature gauge at least moves, the oil pressure gauge is really misleading. A performance car needs to have real working gauges. I guess I'm willing to forgive a fake spoiler, fake gas cap, and a grille with fake holes, but the instruments on the dash should reflect what is actually happening with the car.
09-28-2007, 07:38 AM
#17
1st Gear Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Yorktown, VA
Posts: 52
RE: Guages is it True
ORIGINAL: 281GT
I have a proper aftermarket oil pressure gauge in mine and it does read higher when cold and at higher rpms. The stock oil gauge is driven by a simple on/off switch that closes the contacts in the presence of "some" oil pressure. I know this to be fact because I checked using an ohm meter on the stock sender to learn this.
The stock oil gauge in these cars reads exactly the same as long as there is some oil pressure. It reads the same no matter if the pressure is 10 psi or 60 psi you get the same reading. This is why I installed an aftermarket gauge and coresponding sender that reads actual pressure.
It is true there is a pressue relief valve that will keep the oil pressure in the engine from exceeding a certain level but as long as the pressure is below that point it is not regulated.
The same goes for the stock temperature gauge. It reads the same regardless of temperature. You could be running 130 or 230 the stock gauge reads the same.
I also have an aftermarket guage for temperature and it also behaves much differently than the stock gauge. I can see my coolant fan cycle with it but I don't see that on the stock gauge.
As someone else idicated, the stock gauges are idiot guages only. They will only show different readings if parameters go beyond a certain range but as long as the pressure and temps are within that range you see exactly the same readings.
I have a proper aftermarket oil pressure gauge in mine and it does read higher when cold and at higher rpms. The stock oil gauge is driven by a simple on/off switch that closes the contacts in the presence of "some" oil pressure. I know this to be fact because I checked using an ohm meter on the stock sender to learn this.
The stock oil gauge in these cars reads exactly the same as long as there is some oil pressure. It reads the same no matter if the pressure is 10 psi or 60 psi you get the same reading. This is why I installed an aftermarket gauge and coresponding sender that reads actual pressure.
It is true there is a pressue relief valve that will keep the oil pressure in the engine from exceeding a certain level but as long as the pressure is below that point it is not regulated.
The same goes for the stock temperature gauge. It reads the same regardless of temperature. You could be running 130 or 230 the stock gauge reads the same.
I also have an aftermarket guage for temperature and it also behaves much differently than the stock gauge. I can see my coolant fan cycle with it but I don't see that on the stock gauge.
As someone else idicated, the stock gauges are idiot guages only. They will only show different readings if parameters go beyond a certain range but as long as the pressure and temps are within that range you see exactly the same readings.
Totally agree. I see the same with my gauges.
09-28-2007, 07:42 AM
#18
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Plant City FL
Posts: 403
RE: Guages is it True
ORIGINAL: Lees07GT
I would disagree. They are technically gauges no matter how they are marked. You may not be able to read a number, like 50 PSIG or 190 deg F, but you will have a sense of where the oil and water temps are running, i.e., a little below normal, normal, higher than normal, etc. An idiot light, on the other hand,will only indicate when the oil pressure drops very low or the coolant temp isexcessively high.
I would disagree. They are technically gauges no matter how they are marked. You may not be able to read a number, like 50 PSIG or 190 deg F, but you will have a sense of where the oil and water temps are running, i.e., a little below normal, normal, higher than normal, etc. An idiot light, on the other hand,will only indicate when the oil pressure drops very low or the coolant temp isexcessively high.
09-28-2007, 09:05 AM
#19
Cut & Paste Expert
Join Date: May 2007
Location: NW Arkansas
Posts: 13,322
RE: Guages is it True
My coolant temp guage follows what my DashHawk reports as ect-engine coolant temp.
The gas guage also reads correct, of course. I cant get it to show me oil pressure, maybe
because of the 5PSI and over switch that I read about forum members finding.
The gas guage also reads correct, of course. I cant get it to show me oil pressure, maybe
because of the 5PSI and over switch that I read about forum members finding.
09-28-2007, 09:23 AM
#20
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 3,070
RE: Guages is it True
I'm dissapointed that my stang doesn't have a window gauge to tell me exactly how much light is entering the cabin at any given time. All I know is that there is either some light or no light. I NEED to know the precise amount of light entering at all times, or I will die. [sm=icon_stickpoke.gif] I'm kidding. Just trying to provoke you guys a little.