How Do I Verify Oil Pressure?

[DennisG01]

Is there an easy way to verify what my oil pressure gauge is reading? I installed a remote oil pressure sensor, wired up to a light on my dash. The remote sensor is *supposed* to be calibrated at 20psi. However, according to my stock, dash gauge, the extra light I installed comes on once the pressure drops to about 30-32 psi. I'd like to figure out which is correct - the stock, dash gauge or the new, remote sensor.

This picture shows the oil pressure sensor (blue shrink wrap):

[Hubert]

Ahhhh one of my personal questionable and still not satisfied understanding of oil flow specifics.

How long have you been running the warning light and has it worked as intended before?

You could rig up a cheap mechanical guage to that port and see what it sees for pressure. That would diagnose the warning light function. Depending on speed of switch see below.

Find out specifics for the switch function does warning light come on at instant of 19.99 psi and or 2-3 seconds of <20 psi and it turns off with 2-3 seconds of >20 psi etc that might make a difference. Are you measuring the pressure pre or post filter media? That could dampen pressure spikes of oil flow especially as media plugs more. My guess is the complex flow path and bypass valves are messin with the light. If you measure downstream of filter and bypass's in an oil gallery I bet your oil pressure is close to what your dash gauge reads.

I personally don't believe 100% of the oil goes through the filter or cooler for that matter in normal driving 100% of the time. But I won't tangent for now until I understand more of your problem.

[Hubert]

Also explain how its worked so far.

I interpret light goes out when dash gauge reads above 32 psi. Is that cold and you are reading what about 60 psi idling then warm it dips to 30 ish psi idling and up to 50-60ish at 2000 rpm the light goes on and off depending on what???

[JohnC]

Couple of things to consider:

The oil pressure depends in part on where you measure it. Don't expect 2 sensors at different places in the engine to read the same.

The switch turns on and off in response to changing pressure. The gauge may respond more or less slowly to the same changes.

10 psi at idle is more than enough. 45 psi is more than enough for all operations.

[Kennedy]

What size hoses are you running to the filter?

[Hubert]

One thing I hesitate to question is how does that pressure switch work? Because I don't know exactly. Is it one wire one terminal or is it 2 hard to tell from pic looks like one wire and its suppose to ground to achieve ok signal. But looks like you have rubber for shock absorbtion in mounting filter head and again inbetween mount fixture and truck body so can it achieve good ground or is it open without vibrations or intermittents ???