what do i need for measuring oil pressure on 1.6td

[frankentoy]

im sorry for asking stupid questions here but can someone tell me if i need a vw specific oil pressure sending unit for my 1.6 87 td?  it goes ontop of the oil filter mount?  and can i run an aftermarket gauge with that? anything special i need to know when ordering one?

[QuickTD]

The VW specific VDO sender is actually a dual sender. It has a set of contacts for the low oil pressure warning system as well as a guage sender. It only works with factory or VDO guages, but has trhe proper thread and maintains the oil light function. If you opt for an aftermarket electric or mechanical guge I would advise you to install a "T" to maintain the idiot light, you can't always watch a guage...
 
The thread in the oil filter mount is M10X1. Some say 1/8-27 NPT (most aftermarket guages come with this thread on the sender) will fit and seal OK but I'd spend the extra and order a 1/8 NPT female to M10x1 male adaptor if you go with an aftermarket guage.

[frankentoy]

thank you very much for the help. what psi is good pressure?

[QuickTD]

The VW spec. is minimum 2 bar (29psi)@2000rpm with an oil temperature of 80ºC. Most 1.6TD's and 1.9TD's I've seen run about 10-20psi at idle 30-35 at 2000rpm and anywhere from 35-50psi at highway speeds, depends alot on outside temperature and speed/load.

 The guage will read 80psi or more when the engine is started with cold, thick oil so you should get a guage that reads to 100psi or so.

[veeman]

>>The VW specific VDO sender is actually a dual sender. It has a set of contacts for the low oil pressure warning system as well as a guage sender. It only works with factory or VDO guages, but has trhe proper thread and maintains the oil light function

Quick TD... I have a number of the two-pole Audi/VW 5-bar pressure gauge senders from the older gas Audi's / VW cabriolets.  It appears, however, that the warning light threshold on this sender is not 100% correct with the diesel engines.  I believe that poster was having problems with the light coming on unexpectedly.  Can anyone confirm which sender (part no. or pressure marking on sender) can be used?

A thread came up on this a while ago and I'm not sure if there was a definitive answer.  

http://vwdiesel.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=1636)

I'd really like to use the sender / gauge I have on my TD...  I should get around to putting in the gauges pretty soon.

[QuickTD]

It appears, however, that the warning light threshold on this sender is not 100% correct with the diesel engines.

I see... upon further investigation, alternate VDO sending units are available with different actuation pressures, but you are correct, there really aren't any suitable for the diesel. The audi unit is 1.8bar, it might be ok if used in the oil filter mount (as the high pressure dynamic switch) but not in the head. Eguages.com also has a 7.0psi VDO unit available that might cry wolf alot as the low pressure switch (in the head). You might be better off just installing a "T" in the oil filter mount and using a seperate sender for the guage.

 Some versions of the filter mount have an extra M10x1 hole (1.9TD's have this) with a plug that can be used for an additional sending unit, I'm not sure if later 1.6TD's have this feature or not.

[frankentoy]

i ended up getting a sending unit from summit for 30.00 it has one terminal on it.