What's Inside The Oil Pressure Sender?

[jh225]

Once again, my oil pressure gauge went wacky towards the end of a joy ride that lasted 4 hrs and 150 miles with a few stops along the way.

It was working normal (4 bars at speed)up until the point (I think) that I shifted down to 3rd, revs came up and I passed a slower car. After that, it once again went up to 5 bars. It came down at stops, but shot back up at speed.

I KNOW it is not an engine issue as it runs perfect.

I am thinking that if there is a spring loaded valve in the sender, it is worn out and the extra revs push it to the point that it sticks

If it is not spring loaded, I am stumped.

[ChrisBennet]

The oil level guage pins itself at the top if disconnected at the sender. I can't remember but does the oil pressure guage act that way also? I would check the wiring near the sender.
I have a cut open oil pressure sender if you need a picture.
-Chris

[jh225]

Originally Posted by ChrisBennet

The oil level guage pins itself at the top if disconnected at the sender. I can't remember but does the oil pressure guage act that way also? I would check the wiring near the sender.
I have a cut open oil pressure sender if you need a picture.
-Chris

My pressure sender does not pin all the time, it travels in its normal arc, just seems to be stuck at times.

Please post the picture you have of the pressure sender.

[RWebb]

it contains di-lithium crystals -- they translate the oil pressure into an anti-matter repulsion field

the field keeps the anti-squirrel running inside his cage wheel -- the crank on the end of the cage wheel powers the signal to the oil gauge

[jh225]

Originally Posted by RWebb

it contains di-lithium crystals -- they translate the oil pressure into an anti-matter repulsion field

the field keeps the anti-squirrel running inside his cage wheel -- the crank on the end of the cage wheel powers the signal to the oil gauge

Thanks, that helped a lot.

[ChrisBennet]

Originally Posted by jh225

My pressure sender does not pin all the time, it travels in its normal arc, just seems to be stuck at times.

Please post the picture you have of the pressure sender.

I don't have a picture - just a cut open sender. I'll try to take a picture tonight.
In the meantime, look at the wiring next to your sender. Look for a crack in the insulation, try wiggling it while watching the gauge (if you can) through the back window.
What year car is this?
-Chris

[Mysterytrain]

It sounds like a bad wire connection. I would clean the spade connector on the wire and the sender. Also look for breaks in the wire. It gets hot back there and the wire can get brittle. I think the factory just crimps the connector to the wire. If you are handy you might want to flow some solder into the crimp.

[jh225]

Originally Posted by Mysterytrain

It sounds like a bad wire connection. I would clean the spade connector on the wire and the sender. Also look for breaks in the wire. It gets hot back there and the wire can get brittle. I think the factory just crimps the connector to the wire. If you are handy you might want to flow some solder into the crimp.

Did all that the first time it happened. Cleaned the connectors, and checked the wire. Wire is intact (in appearance anyway)

The part that gets me is that it works as it should for hours at a time, then when I jump on it, the gauge pins, which is what leads me to believe the sender is screwy.

I am probably going to change it out over the winter, but was trying to avoid the PIA procedure to do so.

[stevemfr]

Originally Posted by RWebb

it contains di-lithium crystals -- they translate the oil pressure into an anti-matter repulsion field

the field keeps the anti-squirrel running inside his cage wheel -- the crank on the end of the cage wheel powers the signal to the oil gauge

I'm assuming that the senders come with a European brown squirrel. Can these be replaced with an American gray squirrel? I saw a gray flash across my workbench when I opened my sender the other week - since then my oil press guage has not worked. Before I opened it, it was reading a little too high. Based on your info and what I saw, I think I've figured out what the problem was: I'm assuming someone replaced the European squirrel with a slightly larger American squirrel and this caused the higher than normal output. Now my problem is I have no squirrels handy. Can I just use a chipmunk?