im going to instal an electrical oil pressure gauge, i have been reading about the different ways to tee the stock oil pressure port on the back of the block... but i dont see the purpose of the stock unit after an aftermarket gauge is installed.

if i am going to be able to monitor the exact oil pressure by way of my own gauge, what is the purpose of the OEM sender? is its only function to light up the red oil light on the gauge cluster when pressure drops (which i have unfortunatly seen a few times), or does it communitate vital info to the ecu? would i throw a code or be hurting engine performance if i disconnected the stock sender completely?

thanks for any info

 

Um, I could be wrong on this, but I believe it is tied in to the ECU for VTEc engagement. VTEC won't engage unless oil pressure is high enough.

 

Leave it in, the idiot light is good to have as a backup.

And I would say that it is not tied to vtec since I've dropped out of vtec on the track due to low oil pressure and the light never went on.

 

The light is worthless.

It might as well be a green "$" because if you see it while you're driving, thats what you will be looking at.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The light is worthless.

It might as well be a green "$" because if you see it while you're driving, thats what you will be looking at.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yep. Ive heard several people here say vtec wouldnt kick in because their oil was so low. I've never heard anyone say their oil light came on.

IMO, the oil light should be recalled.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jond &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
IMO, the oil light should be recalled.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

WTF j00 talking about? J00 ever change j00r oil?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by El Pollo Diablo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">WTF j00 talking about? J00 ever change j00r oil?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Its purpose is to let you know your oil is low. Not to let you know you need a new engine. It should come on when you're no more than 2 quarts low.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jond &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Its purpose is to let you know your oil is low. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Is it?

It seems that at its designed 5psi trigger, to let you know that your about to throw a rod through the crankcase if you dont shut your engine off.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jond &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Its purpose is to let you know your oil is low. Not to let you know you need a new engine. It should come on when you're no more than 2 quarts low.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

It's doing what it was designed to do...to the dot. I fail to see why it should be recalled...

If j00 need an idiot light to tell j00 j00r oil is low get an autometer pressure sensor and connect it to a light.

 

I had my light turn on at Gingerman once...

I came in and checked the level, and it was good...maybe the sensor was messed up? It has yet to do it again.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by cheezthis &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I had my light turn on at Gingerman once...

I came in and checked the level, and it was good...maybe the sensor was messed up? It has yet to do it again.</TD></TR></TABLE>

It was j00r magical block

could be bad ground...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jond &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Its purpose is to let you know your oil is low. Not to let you know you need a new engine. It should come on when you're no more than 2 quarts low.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

its purpose is to let you know you lost oil pressure, not that you have low oil. all cars come with a great low oil sensor, its called a dipstick,

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Eddiebx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">its purpose is to let you know you lost oil pressure, not that you have low oil. all cars come with a great low oil sensor, its called a dipstick, </TD></TR></TABLE>

I disagree. I think its purpose is to help prevent major engine damage do to oil/pressure loss by informing the user before engine damage occurs. It fails to do this. When the light comes on, engine damage has been done.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jond &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I disagree. I think its purpose is to help prevent major engine damage do to oil/pressure loss by informing the user before engine damage occurs. It fails to do this. When the light comes on, engine damage has been done.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Depends on how you define engine damage. Even if bearings get scored due to low pressure, its still rebuildable. The motor can live for a short time on very low pressure at idle/low revs.

 

ive had the oil light turn on a few times in really high lateral loads, i just recieved canton baffled oil pan to hopefully deal with the starvation.

i have also dropped out of VTEC without the light turning on.

but i dont think the oem sensor is variable voltage... so i dont think its taking readings of actual pressure, only when it drops completley, but this doesnt make sense unless my dash light is malfunctioning and not turning on when pressure drops. but i dont know... im confused, i think its time for a haltech

 

ok, i disconnected the switch and i am not throwing a code and vtec is still engaging... and the red oil light doesnt come on when the ignition is on... then i plugged the sensor back in and the red oil light does come on when ignition is on but engine is off.

its only a one wire switch, so it is grounded to the block.
when there is oil pressure the circut is open so light stays off, when there is no oil pressure the circut is completed and the red light comes on.

this also means the peopel who have run a line off the block and set up a T to use the stock pressure sensor and an aftermarket sensor, MUST ground the T fitting if they want to retain the use of the oem sensor, if not it is useless and should be removed anyway.

in summary: the oem oil pressure switch only controls the red dash light, it does not affect the ecu or VTEC operation. im going to remove it completley and mount an aftermarket gauge.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Is it?

It seems that at its designed 5psi trigger, to let you know that your about to throw a rod through the crankcase if you dont shut your engine off.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

can you upgrade it to trigger higher?

 

what you think is incorrect. install a pressure gauge and you'll see how oil light behaves.. i always pay attention to how oil pressure goes.. i can assure you the only time you'll see the oil light is when you have 0 or few psi oil pressure which is not enough to operate the car.. the only time this would happen is when dying idle or cold start or oil isn't getting to sensor for some reason (in this case if you're making sharp turn at high speed - the only way i can explain).

oil pressure could go from ~ .5kg/cm2 to almost 6kg/cm2 at operating temps and none of these you'll see the the oil light come on..

 

i'd replace it first, make sure its just the sensor and not anything else.. aftermarket gauge is good to have and stock oil light isn't necessary but still great to have for backup

 

i just explained that the oem oil pressure sensor is basically on/off, its a one wire switch, if you turn the ignition on but dont start the motor the light comes on, as soon as the motor is on and oil pressure goes to the switch the light turns off... so the red light on the dash will only come on when there is no oil pressure.

if i have an aftermarket gauge to monitor the oil pressure, why would i still want the stock sensor to tell me when oil psi is at zero? i can see it on the guage. otherwise this light does nothing.