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Oil Pressure Gauge - Elect or Mec #2584839
11/29/18 08:16 PM
11/29/18 08:16 PM
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East Aurora (Buffalo) NY
RoadRunner Offline OP
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As I start looking at laying out my next project, I am trying to decide which way to go with a couple of after market gauge. This is for my 68 Road Runner. I like the idea of electrical oil pressure gauge as its a bit easier to run a couple of wires than a tube. Does anyone have experience using electric? Would a decent gauge like an Autometer have fast enough response?

Just curious what others may be doing.


68 Road Runner (383/4speed, post car w/decor pkg) - Major Project
69 Road Runner w/472 Hemi & 4 speed.
70 Challenger R/T SE EF8 w/ V9J, U - A32 - Major Project
2023 Ford Mach 1
Re: Oil Pressure Gauge - Elect or Mec [Re: RoadRunner] #2584860
11/29/18 09:14 PM
11/29/18 09:14 PM
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Morrow, OH
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For my new GTX build I went with electric for everything but the oil pressure. Just could not pull the trigger on electrical for such an important function.

Quality electric gauges are expensive. I paid a lot for the gauges.


67 Coronet 500 9.610 @ 139.20 mph
67 Coronet 500 (street car) 14.82 @ 94 mph
69 GTX (clone) - build in progress......
Re: Oil Pressure Gauge - Elect or Mec [Re: RoadRunner] #2585009
11/30/18 02:07 AM
11/30/18 02:07 AM
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dIc dOc Deity ! Offline
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Another vote for a mechanical

Re: Oil Pressure Gauge - Elect or Mec [Re: RoadRunner] #2585013
11/30/18 02:12 AM
11/30/18 02:12 AM
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Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert Offline
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The only worry with a mech (for me) is if it ever leaks onto my wiring/carpet (take extra care with the initial install). I would think a quality electrical could be had.


live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
Re: Oil Pressure Gauge - Elect or Mec [Re: RoadRunner] #2585019
11/30/18 02:25 AM
11/30/18 02:25 AM
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dIc dOc Deity ! Offline
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RR .... have you ever EVEN HEARD of a tube or connection leaking with a mech gauge ?

Re: Oil Pressure Gauge - Elect or Mec [Re: dIc dOc Deity !] #2585024
11/30/18 02:36 AM
11/30/18 02:36 AM
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Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert Offline
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To answer your Q. In all my years I have only seen one that had a slight drip.


live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
Re: Oil Pressure Gauge - Elect or Mec [Re: RoadRunner] #2585025
11/30/18 02:38 AM
11/30/18 02:38 AM
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Morristown Tn.
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71birdJ68 Offline
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I have a gauge made by Marshall Instruments. It is very fast acting, but the best part is it has programable hi and low limits warnings, which can also be used to trigger a remote warning light to get you attention.

Re: Oil Pressure Gauge - Elect or Mec [Re: RapidRobert] #2585038
11/30/18 03:09 AM
11/30/18 03:09 AM
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Originally Posted By RapidRobert
To answer your Q. In all my years I have only seen one that had a slight drip.


Tube fracture or fitting failure ?

Re: Oil Pressure Gauge - Elect or Mec [Re: RoadRunner] #2585071
11/30/18 10:28 AM
11/30/18 10:28 AM
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London, England
Gavin Offline
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No inherent difference is accuracy, response etc. That will vary by price in either case. Find me a mechanical oil pressure gauge in any modern factory car.....including performance cars, supercars, boosted cars. No issue with using one, but price might be the only possible reason I can think of.

Re: Oil Pressure Gauge - Elect or Mec [Re: RoadRunner] #2585082
11/30/18 11:00 AM
11/30/18 11:00 AM
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Keymar, MD
DusterKid Offline
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I use mechanical as I like having a "live" gauge. I'm seen electrical ones act up and oil pressure is pretty important when it comes to an engine. Every mech gauge I've bought has come with the plastic tubing which is not allowed for a race car. I've had the copper line crack on me twice in my time. Both times where the line would be in the fitting at the engine. After the 2nd time I changed over to a -3an braided line, not more cracked lines for me. Not all gauges are compatible with braided lines. I had cheaper gauges for years, but ended up purchasing an Autometer oil pressure gauge when I did the braided line setup.

Re: Oil Pressure Gauge - Elect or Mec [Re: RoadRunner] #2585101
11/30/18 11:49 AM
11/30/18 11:49 AM
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Benton, IL.
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DaveRS23 Offline
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There is no problem using a QUALITY electric gage. As mentioned above, virtually all auto manufacturers use electric ones.

One thing that I always do with my oil pressure gage is to "T" the block port and put both the gage pressure sender and an idiot light sender in it. The idiot light sender goes to a small red blinking LED that can be put in a lot of different places in front of the driver.

With a large selection of trigger points available on the light senders, you can set on-point of the light where ever you want. I usually set mine somewhere around 10lbs.

The warning light pieces can be done for $15 or so at any auto supply.


Master, again and still
Re: Oil Pressure Gauge - Elect or Mec [Re: RoadRunner] #2585124
11/30/18 12:30 PM
11/30/18 12:30 PM
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East Aurora (Buffalo) NY
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I've used the braided stainless line in my other car. It was a bit more difficult to route around stuff. Id line to get the gauge up under the dash pad over where the clock would be. So not a lot of room to make bends with thicker braided line. I could probably fish a pre-bent 1/8" stainless hard line for a short distance, then connect flexible stainless under dash and through firewall to engine.
But a couple of wires would be much easier. And I do like the ability to have a low or hi limit alarm. Costs aside, if it has the functionality I want, Ill buy it.

Thanks all.


68 Road Runner (383/4speed, post car w/decor pkg) - Major Project
69 Road Runner w/472 Hemi & 4 speed.
70 Challenger R/T SE EF8 w/ V9J, U - A32 - Major Project
2023 Ford Mach 1
Re: Oil Pressure Gauge - Elect or Mec [Re: RoadRunner] #2585143
11/30/18 01:01 PM
11/30/18 01:01 PM
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Western Md.
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I had an electric oil pressure gauge in mine and when a couple of the other electric gauges went bad rant (Cyberdyne)
I swapped it out for a mechanical one even though routing the hard line was a pita...
One thing to watch is you have to ground the gauges to the engine and not the dash...I turned the radio up and the oil pressure dropped and water temperature spiked...grounding to the engine corrected that...
1st pic is the Cyberdyne gauges...
2nd is the new Stewart Warner Green Line...

Gauges 2.jpg266.jpg

...FAFO...
Re: Oil Pressure Gauge - Elect or Mec [Re: dIc dOc Deity !] #2585190
11/30/18 02:48 PM
11/30/18 02:48 PM
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Lincoln Nebraska
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Originally Posted By Doc Fiberglass
Originally Posted By RapidRobert
To answer your Q. In all my years I have only seen one that had a slight drip.


Tube fracture or fitting failure ?
I ain't for sure (many years ago), it was a slight drip right behind the brass fitting at the gauge. X2 what Dave said, T into the port & add (or keep) an idiot light & use a sender that turns on higher than the OE ones, 15 maybe 20 psi.


live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
Re: Oil Pressure Gauge - Elect or Mec [Re: RapidRobert] #2585348
11/30/18 08:54 PM
11/30/18 08:54 PM
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Palm Coast, FL (near Daytona B...
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I like mechanical. I used copper tubing when I did my truck years ago with no problems. I personally like Autometer gages. In my 2001 Cummins dually I used air brake tubing with push lock connectors. I also used needle valves under the hood so if there are any leaks I can close the valve at the source.


Ask me my opinion of Frank Mitchell....... A Mopar crook!
Re: Oil Pressure Gauge - Elect or Mec [Re: RoadRunner] #2585371
11/30/18 09:48 PM
11/30/18 09:48 PM
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If I was driving a choo choo with a boiler then a mechanical gauge might make sense.

Otherwise it doesn't. Modern electrical gauges are lights ahead of mechanical ones.


They say there are no such thing as a stupid question.
They say there is always the exception that proves the rule.
Don't be the exception.
Re: Oil Pressure Gauge - Elect or Mec [Re: Blown_Hemi] #2585403
11/30/18 10:44 PM
11/30/18 10:44 PM
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Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert Offline
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Quote:
I also used needle valves under the hood so if there are any leaks I can close the valve at the source.
That's exactly what hit me earlier when this thread got me thinking which was to add a valve at the eng port if there ever was an issue. I ain't sure what a needle valve is but I will Google it & add one on my next build if I use a mech gauge.


live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
Re: Oil Pressure Gauge - Elect or Mec [Re: Supercuda] #2585413
11/30/18 10:56 PM
11/30/18 10:56 PM
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Utah and Alaska
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Originally Posted By Supercuda
If I was driving a choo choo with a boiler then a mechanical gauge might make sense.

Otherwise it doesn't. Modern electrical gauges are lights ahead of mechanical ones.


In YOUR opinion. I stick with steam gauges..
https://www.vansaircraft.com/cgi-bin/sto...;product=va-128


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Re: Oil Pressure Gauge - Elect or Mec [Re: astjp2] #2585426
11/30/18 11:19 PM
11/30/18 11:19 PM
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Originally Posted By astjp2
Originally Posted By Supercuda
If I was driving a choo choo with a boiler then a mechanical gauge might make sense.

Otherwise it doesn't. Modern electrical gauges are lights ahead of mechanical ones.


In YOUR opinion. I stick with steam gauges..
https://www.vansaircraft.com/cgi-bin/sto...;product=va-128


yay, you found a fitting, how fitting.

Pretty much anything not stone aged technology, including Lycoming there, uses electrical gauges for a reason. They are more precise, more accurate, more flexible and more responsive.


They say there are no such thing as a stupid question.
They say there is always the exception that proves the rule.
Don't be the exception.
Re: Oil Pressure Gauge - Elect or Mec [Re: RoadRunner] #2585463
12/01/18 12:04 AM
12/01/18 12:04 AM
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Michigan
MarkZ Offline
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Short sweep Autometer electric gauges. Been running them for years without issue. I did have a cheap mechanical piss all over my shoes once. Had to drive home one-handed while I was crimping the line with a pair of pliers.


1987 Fifth Avenue - 512/518/D60
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