Oil level Gauge Calibration possible?

[Matthew_VA]

I've been searching but haven't found any info (might not be searching right) but is there a way to calibrate/adjust the oil level gauge to better align with the dip stick?

The oil level gauge is indicating a higher level (at 3/4 high mark) than the dipstick (at half or a tad below).

Just curious.

[jbell959]

There is no good way to calibrate the gauges and unfortunately, they will never be that accurate. You can get a little adjustment by rotating the needle on the shaft to change the starting point. It might be possible to add a resistor in series with your sender but that would take a lot of trial and error. I don't think these gauges/senders were ever designed to be super accurate. I see a lot of variation in the gauges and also the senders.

If you pull out your oil level gauge you will see a wire wound resistor. Believe it or not, each gauge was calibrated at the factory by winding a certain amount of wire around the spool. That wire spool has a different resistance on each gauge. If you are good with electronics and soldering you can remove that wire wound resistor and replace it with a trimmer potentiometer and that would allow you to make some adjustments. Again, it will take a lot of trial and error to get it calibrated with your sender.

[Matthew_VA]

I like the idea of the pot trimmer, may give that a shot. Thanks!

Originally Posted by jbell959

There is no good way to calibrate the gauges and unfortunately, they will never be that accurate. You can get a little adjustment by rotating the needle on the shaft to change the starting point. It might be possible to add a resistor in series with your sender but that would take a lot of trial and error. I don't think these gauges/senders were ever designed to be super accurate. I see a lot of variation in the gauges and also the senders.

If you pull out your oil level gauge you will see a wire wound resistor. Believe it or not, each gauge was calibrated at the factory by winding a certain amount of wire around the spool. That wire spool has a different resistance on each gauge. If you are good with electronics and soldering you can remove that wire wound resistor and replace it with a trimmer potentiometer and that would allow you to make some adjustments. Again, it will take a lot of trial and error to get it calibrated with your sender.

[winglesss]

Yes, 100% possible to accurately correlate dipstick reading / oil tank sender to dash gauge display.

That task is on my much later to do list.

When I effect that tweak I will accurately measure the resistances provided to the gauge, in place of the oil tank sender to attain the high level and the low level reading.

The oil tank sender resistances will be accurately measured when the dipstick measures at the high level and at the low level.

Then normal series / parallel resistor calculations will be performed to determine what resistance values and wattages are required for additional series and parallel resistors that will be added to the oil tank sender, so the dipstick level exactly measures the high / low readings on the dash gauge.

[jbell959]

Originally Posted by Matthew_VA

I like the idea of the pot trimmer, may give that a shot. Thanks!

I've done this in the past with good success but it still takes a lot of correlating between what the sender and gauge. Remove the wire wound resistor and measure it. The buy a trimmer that is roughly twice the value so you are starting around the midpoint of the trimmer.

[HarryD]

Tedious but you can pull the sender and bend the arm, replace, check reading.

Lather, rinse, repeat until you are satisfied.

[Classic 911]

Following


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[proporsche]

all you have to do is remove the oil level sending unit.Clean it a little bit.Connect the ground and signal wire to it..by bending the stops on each end you can calibrate where the needle on your gauge will stop..very easy job

[MConn]

Originally Posted by HarryD

Tedious but you can pull the sender and bend the arm, replace, check reading.

Lather, rinse, repeat until you are satisfied.

This is what i did. Now my gauge reads full when the dip stick reads 1 quart low (I run 1 quart low). The cold oil level should be below the sending unit flange so bending the rod is not too messy.

Mike