Engine Oil Pressure Gauge Range....Questions???

[ftm1776]

1991 MK2 non-turbo 1.6 diesel engine.

What is the normal engine oil pressure for a 1.6 diesel, non-turbo?

I see VDO gauges ranging to 80, 100 and 150 psi.

What would be best range for a gauge to cover start up and running pressures???

If running pressure is, say, 40 psi, and start up cold is, say, 100 psi, would pegging the gauge do any damage to the gauge or the sender?

I'd rather use the 80 psi gauge so that it normally indicates in its mid-range.

[vanbcguy]

The 80 PSI gauge will probably be fine.  It'll likely be pegged during cold startup and for the first bit of driving but as soon as things warm up at all it'll be in its ideal range. 

Sometimes the senders have a max PSI rating besides their max reading rating - ie the maximum pressure the sender can see without damaging it, even though it will be at full scale below that.  Worth checking in to.

[ftm1776]

The 80 PSI gauge will probably be fine.  It'll likely be pegged during cold startup and for the first bit of driving but as soon as things warm up at all it'll be in its ideal range.  

Sometimes the senders have a max PSI rating besides their max reading rating - ie the maximum pressure the sender can see without damaging it, even though it will be at full scale below that.  Worth checking in to.

The VDO senders for 80 and 150 have different part numbers on Egauges.com I'll give them a call and run it past them.

[ORCoaster]

I have blown out two different oil gauges by being to low on the high end.  Does that even make sense?  Basically popped the manual mechanism that provides the sweep to the needle.  Can't run 100 to 110 on an 80 max gauge and have it register correctly after that.  Going to those electric gauges with the senders might be the way to get around the problem.

Thanks for the words of wisdom.  If indeed they are wisdom.

[vanbcguy]

Mechanical gauges definitely DO NOT like being pushed past their upper range.  As soon as the needle hits a stop you are bending stuff internally and the gauge isn't going to read properly again after that.

Electrical gauges are often a bit less picky in that regard, though the sender itself can still be damaged by too much pressure.  The problem is identifying exactly how much pressure is "ok" for that particular gauge.  I ended up using a 150 PSI sender and an electronic gauge - 15 PSI on a 150 PSI gauge is barely off the '0'.

[bajacalal]

The 80 PSI gauge will probably be fine.  It'll likely be pegged during cold startup and for the first bit of driving but as soon as things warm up at all it'll be in its ideal range.  

Sometimes the senders have a max PSI rating besides their max reading rating - ie the maximum pressure the sender can see without damaging it, even though it will be at full scale below that.  Worth checking in to.

The VDO senders for 80 and 150 have different part numbers on Egauges.com I'll give them a call and run it past them.

From the research I've done, all the VDO senders have the same "output," regardless of pressure range, 10-180 ohm. The difference is that the senders rated for a lower pressure reach the max resistance at a lower pressure. So you shouldn't damage a gauge by using the wrong sender, it will just read wrong.

I think 80 psi should be enough and I don't think it would go much over that especially if you're taking the reading from the port on the head, which is far from the pump where the pressure is lower.

[damac]

I use auber electric gages and like them so don't worry about this.

When I think about it, I don't recall hitting 80psi with a warm engine while cruising on the freeway.

I haven't driven in months due to surgery on my foot, but should be allowed in a couple weeks and will look for the hell of it.  I do get the 100+ cold and it goes down by the time I hit the freeway.

[ORCoaster]

I don't know about that lowest pressure at the head thing.  I get 110 on just about every morning startup.  Temps between 40 and 50 most of the year.  I drive 3 miles to work on 35 MPH roads and have to stop for three lights.  When I turn it off in the lot i still am looking at 70 psi at an idle.  Do I have a stuck part in the oil pump?  I don't think so because after a good run around town, say 10 miles of stop and go I am down to 30 at idle.  That is why I run a 0-120 psi gauge on the oil.  Run the same on the IP pump and cruising speed, or 2400 RPM is right at 75 psi.  With a kick up to 100 if I really wind up in second or third.

[vanbcguy]

Wow, that is about double the pressures I measure at the head on my engine...

[ORCoaster]

I even have an adapter on the oil filter that takes a bit of the oil over to a secondary filter for extreme cleaning.  The old Frantz job with the toilet paper roll in it. 

[Wayland]

I don't know about that lowest pressure at the head thing.  I get 110 on just about every morning startup.  Temps between 40 and 50 most of the year.  I drive 3 miles to work on 35 MPH roads and have to stop for three lights.  When I turn it off in the lot i still am looking at 70 psi at an idle.  Do I have a stuck part in the oil pump?  I don't think so because after a good run around town, say 10 miles of stop and go I am down to 30 at idle.  That is why I run a 0-120 psi gauge on the oil.  Run the same on the IP pump and cruising speed, or 2400 RPM is right at 75 psi.  With a kick up to 100 if I really wind up in second or third.

In my experience,  that's pretty normal for an engine that's in good condition,  especially if it's a solid lifter motor.

[theman53]

I don't know about that lowest pressure at the head thing.  I get 110 on just about every morning startup.  Temps between 40 and 50 most of the year.  I drive 3 miles to work on 35 MPH roads and have to stop for three lights.  When I turn it off in the lot i still am looking at 70 psi at an idle.  Do I have a stuck part in the oil pump?  I don't think so because after a good run around town, say 10 miles of stop and go I am down to 30 at idle.  That is why I run a 0-120 psi gauge on the oil.  Run the same on the IP pump and cruising speed, or 2400 RPM is right at 75 psi.  With a kick up to 100 if I really wind up in second or third.

I had similar pressures when my pump bypass was plugged with stuff. I have a 36mm pump, but I have a turbo. Mine is a mech lifters. Now it is much less