oil pressure gauge?

bluerang3r · #1 01-07-2011, 06:20 PM

well im looking into installing another gauge with my truck. i have a vacuum/boost gauge right now but i have another slot in my pod pillar. i was thinking oil pressure cause all the truck has is a retard light for the oil(im not a big fan of lights as you can tell) but has anyone ever attempted this at all? if you have i would like a full detailed report if you dont mind since the directions for installing them are of no good

pooleo · #2 01-07-2011, 06:56 PM

I have installed them. One in my ranger, one in my dads ranger and one in my expedition. There real easy if you have a mechanical gauge. I never messed with an electronic one before. Basically just run the line down the pillar, take off the fuse block cover snake it thru the hole there, down over the E-brake. I ran mine right thru the firewall were the plug is for the clutch. Then, I just took out my factory gauge and put the aftermarket one right there. You can then just ground the factory sending unit line to show the stock gauge at norm.

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On my dads ran it the same way, but we installed a sandwich adapter and tapped into that for the oil line. I have a quick wright up on it somewere around here.

bluerang3r · #3 01-07-2011, 07:28 PM

thanks for the response.. but i dont have a factory gauge. i just have the retard light. but if i remove the factory sending unit will the light turn on and stay on forever? that is my problem. i might just splice into a line or something if that is the case. and here is another question for you, did you use just the parts they provided or did you have to get other parts.. cause thats what i had to do to my other guage.. pain in the butt by the way.. also on my vacuum/boost gauge i have a problem with the plastic tube coming out of the gauge where the ferrel nut is it just slides on out. so is there a better way to keep it in there or did i put it in wrong. but i did use the instructions it came with.

pooleo · #4 01-07-2011, 08:29 PM

I used the hardware that came with the gauge. The sending unit on mine takes 1/4" pipe thread, and they size was in the package. With the plastic line you really have to crank the nut down. Its designed to be cranked and this forces the furrell down which pinches the line to hold it tight.

If you have just an idiot light then its probably that when you loose oil pressure the light comes on so the "switch" is opening, canceling the connect to ground. Switch close, makes contact which results in ground. You should be able to just ground the wire and the light wont come on.

bluerang3r · #5 01-08-2011, 10:08 AM

ok ill have to check it out when i get a chance cause its been snowing here lately so ill have to take a look. but thanks for the help and grounding the wire shouldnt be hard but i really want to see before i try it. i think later today im going to hook up the lights to gauge and see how hard that is... do you have any suggestions for that. cause i think im just going to route power to it through the parking lamps and dimmer switch its fuze block 31 in the dash. sounds like the right slot to me at least. if that isnt it then ill have to find another slot.. i would like to find a slot that has power and that isnt being used currently

pooleo · #6 01-08-2011, 10:50 AM

I just routed my wires down to the fuse block and stuck it in the fuse for the radio, when key is on the gauge lights come on. Then I just ground the water temp line to the motor and grounded the neg for the lights to temp line.

bluerang3r · #7 01-09-2011, 12:39 AM

well i bought a add a curcuit today it was like 5 bucks but i think its going to be worth it. im guessing thats how you fused your gauges. i guess i could use the parking lamps fuse cause once you turn on the parking lamps that would turn on the gauge lights. and i guess the other i will have to use the radio or find another source to plug it in cause i dont want to overload the circuit to much. cause the one i was going to tap into is the parking lamps and dimmer switch.