My question is mainly for those of you who have had your oil pump break.

How fast did the oil pressure drop after the gear shattered? I'm trying to figure out if I'll have enough time to shut off the engine if my pressure drops. I’m going to install a DFE Gauge with a alarm that goes off if my pressure drops below a certain level.

Assuming the pressure drops instantly, what's your opinion on how many seconds before engine damage occurs with zero oil pressure?

Thanks

 

you would have to shut down pretty fast if the oil pump totally shaters its a wrap

 

keep in mind that the oil pressure that you get at idle (8-9psi) would be destructive at high RPM.

So either you have an alarm that goes off all the time you are at lower RPM, or you have an alarm that doesn't go off until oil pressure drops below 5 psi, when you are already fauxored.

I would somehow rig up a relay to switch on when oil pressure is below 50psi, and rig it up to your alarm through an RPM switch, set for 3000 RPM.

so your alarm is deactivated below 3000 RPM, and will activate any time pressure drops below 50 PSI, above 3000 RPM.

my $0.02

 

Good point. I need to make sure the the DFE Gauge takes the RPM's into account.

 

I've never seen one that does.

You'd want to find a gauge like the (Apex'i gauges) that have a circuit output for a warning signal, rather then (or in adition to) the LED on the gauge face. That way, you can run THAT wire through an RPM switch, and to your auxillary warning.

The Apex'i ones have both warning (LED on gauge face, and output wire). Each warning is programmable. You could make the one on the gauge face activate at 7 PSI or whatever (so you can expect to see this light turn off within a second or two of starting engine), and the second one wired up for 50 PSI, through the rev switch. good luck.

BTW, these numbers I'm mentioning are out of the service manual. Honda calls for a minimum of 7 (or maybe 8? can't remember) PSI at idle, and 50 psi at 3000 RPM. Mine usually had 60-65 psi at 3000 RPM.