Oil Pressure Gauge vs Idiot Light

[Jeff Higgins]

Which do you prefer? I like having a gauge, but I can certainly see the case for the light. I think ideally we would have both. So now I do, on my 1993 Ducati 900 SS, which as delivered comes with just an oil pressure warning light.

I have had three sending units for the idiot light fail over the years. Talk about disconcerting - when the sending unit fails, the oil pressure warning light comes on. This is, apparently, a "known issue" on these bikes (I really hate that term...), so I finally decided to do something about it.

Here is my brand new Autometer mechanical oil pressure gauge. It almost looks like it belongs. And talk about peace of mind...

[masraum]

Nice looking install! Like you said, looks like it belongs.

Performance vehicles that don't have a full complement of real gauges bug me. I understand why manufacturers don't install them these days, but I hate it.

My Boxster has a tach, digital speedo AND analog speedo, fuel level, and coolant temp. But the coolant temp is not linear and is essentially an idiot light. It really only reads cold, anywhere in the normal range, and too hot. I'd really love to swap out the analog speedo (that I NEVER look at) for a oil pressure and oil temperature multi gauge. I can get good info from an oil pressure gauge before/without it telling me that the motor is blown.

[speeder]

Nice. Did it use an adaptor that looks like a fitting with a side hole that the gauge connects to and then the stock sensor screws on the top, like this?

https://www.cravenspeed.com/gauge-sender-adapters-for-mini-cooper-r53-oil-pressure-sender-base-and-s/?srsltid=AfmBOopw-qtnAZbm7jWqThF_ZDsSecckVincHhUo_WGRWJb-fXcAi7-m3w8&com_cvv=8fb3d522dc163aeadb66e08cd7450cbbdddc64c6cf 2e8891f6d48747c6d56d2c

[A930Rocket]

I like both. Although I look at the gauges, you never know when that one time you don’t and the light will get your attention.

After I had the low oil pressure warnings on my F150, I added a separate oil pressure gauge, as the stock one was an on/off switch. I went with a digital gauge, as I would see it better at night. I’m also looking at a warning light, but need to find a sensor and light that will work.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by speeder

Nice. Did it use an adaptor that looks like a fitting with a side hole that the gauge connects to and then the stock sensor screws on the top, like this?

https://www.cravenspeed.com/gauge-sender-adapters-for-mini-cooper-r53-oil-pressure-sender-base-and-s/?srsltid=AfmBOopw-qtnAZbm7jWqThF_ZDsSecckVincHhUo_WGRWJb-fXcAi7-m3w8&com_cvv=8fb3d522dc163aeadb66e08cd7450cbbdddc64c6cf 2e8891f6d48747c6d56d2c

Yup, pretty much like that, just a simple "tee" into which both the idiot light sender and the fitting for the gauge will thread. Best of both worlds.

[fanaudical]

Nice install!

I'm a gauge junkie - I love analog gauges. I also prefer warning lights in conjunction with analog gauges for important stuff (like oil pressure).

[A930Rocket]

Here’s my set up for the stock gauge and mech gauge, but I figure I could add another for the light

[greglepore]

I'm a fan of setting up a t so that you have both an actual pressure gauge and a light to call your attention to it...
Agree that senders for either can fail, so yeah, good to have both.

[VINMAN]

I prefer gauges. I like to see problems starting to happen before its too late. But a light usually catches your attention right away in most cases.

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[Shaun @ Tru6]

Timely thread. New gauge looks really good and I'll certainly be doing this to my '95 this winter. Twice I've had the idiot light come on under hard braking recently but I think it has more to do with the oil leak I've got to fix this winter. I was thinking of getting a '96 gauge cluster with the temperature gauge, not sure if there's enough room for pressure at 10 oclock of the cluster.

[juanbenae]

I put an adjustable sender in my racecar and a huge red light in the clock hole. I adjusted the sender to illuminate the light when at running temp & idle. That way if I lost oil pressure it would light up before it had none at all.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

Timely thread. New gauge looks really good and I'll certainly be doing this to my '95 this winter. Twice I've had the idiot light come on under hard braking recently but I think it has more to do with the oil leak I've got to fix this winter. I was thinking of getting a '96 gauge cluster with the temperature gauge, not sure if there's enough room for pressure at 10 oclock of the cluster.

That setup is what inspired my installation. Now that I'm through the "proof of concept" phase of this, I'm going to order just the plate and put the pressure gauge in the hole for the temp gauge. I'll paint the ring around the bezel black while I'm at it.

[herr_oberst]

I wonder if "Send Cut Send" offers carbon fiber?

[greglepore]

While at it, you should add one of these-its a single led that indicates voltage in red, yellow , green. Have one in my 911 under the boost gauge and its great. Bought mine in usa, no idea where, but here's one on ebay. https://www.ebay.com/itm/202221032020
https://gammatronixltd.com/epages/bae94c71-c5b6-4572-89a1-e89006e78fbe.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/bae94c71-c5b6-4572-89a1-e89006e78fbe/Categories/Category1

Given 900ss regulators, its a good call.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

I wonder if "Send Cut Send" offers carbon fiber?

Send Cut Send does cut carbon fiber sheets.

As a quick derailment, don't use Xometry. It took over a month for them to waterjet cut a 4mm wide aluminum frame for a dash panel project. First they shipped a solid bar. Then a 2mm wide frame and finally a correct 4mm. Their CS is HORRIBLE. Slow on a glacial scale. To their credit, the part is perfect. Send Cut Send couldn't make the part and if they could, shipping would have been $150 or so. They are not as well set up as you would think. Xometry sandwiched each delicate frame between 1. 2x6s and 2. 2 cedar planks and taped them today and shipped for $40 IIRC.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

That setup is what inspired my installation. Now that I'm through the "proof of concept" phase of this, I'm going to order just the plate and put the pressure gauge in the hole for the temp gauge. I'll paint the ring around the bezel black while I'm at it.

Cool project and will be factory in the end.

This summer on a few extremely hot days, in traffic, I was concerned about temps. Bike was fine but want to read temps.

[Rot 911]

While it’s fun to look at gauges, I prefer the idiot light on my motorcycles as it’s easier to spot if I lose oil pressure.

[speeder]

A good set-up should always have both. Even old air-cooled 911s that had a gauge for everything also have a bright red light for low oil pressure. It’s too important not to have one. It’s easy to not look at a particular gauge for a minute or two while driving or riding but the light is impossible to miss.

I just realized that when a previous owner installed aftermarket gauges on my Mini, (oil pressure and boost), they eliminated the light and just put a gauge sender where the light sender was on the block. That is going to be rectified soon.

[LJ851]

I’ve replaced a lot of oil light senders on Ducati’s over the years. It’s always the sender unless the rod bearings are knocked out as well. The oil pumps are Very reliable.