Oil pressure
- Thread starter FordNut
- Start date
FordNut
Contributing Member
It's ok. After warming up, the pressure is about 75-80 at higher rpms, 50-60 at cruising speeds (2000-2500 rpm) and about 15 when sitting at stop lights at idle.
I'm going to be pulling the gauge panel off again anyway because I decided that would be a convenient place to pick up switched power for the radar detector. The oil pressure gauge has a switched (ignition) wire and a ground wire. Shouldn't be a problem to hook a low-power device like a radar detector to it. And I can hook it up neatly with ring terminals instead of splices.
I'm going to be pulling the gauge panel off again anyway because I decided that would be a convenient place to pick up switched power for the radar detector. The oil pressure gauge has a switched (ignition) wire and a ground wire. Shouldn't be a problem to hook a low-power device like a radar detector to it. And I can hook it up neatly with ring terminals instead of splices.
RF Overlord
73 is the best number.
FordNut said:
Thanks, Nut...but wow, that seems like quite a spread from idle to higher RPM...so much for the "tight clearances" idea...15# doesn't leave a lot of room before the 6# "low pressure" limit...
Appreciate the info...now when I do mine, I'll know right away if it's working properly...
DougKing77
Member
heelloo, am I missing something here? Oil gauge is FAKE?
Am I missing something? The oil pressure guage is not really reading what it indicates? I admit it seems to be damped but mine does go down to zero when I shut off and up to around 70PSI when running.
Am I missing something? The oil pressure guage is not really reading what it indicates? I admit it seems to be damped but mine does go down to zero when I shut off and up to around 70PSI when running.
W
WolfeBros
Guest
Hi Doug. Do a search for "gauge" and there are several threads about the oil pressure gauge issue. In a nutshell the factory gauge that reads 60 psi is really just an on/off indication that triggers if the oil pressure is above 6.5 psi......So yeah......the gauge is a fake. It does not read real oil pressure.
DougKing77
Member
Well Boy.... I wonder what else they have "faked" on this car
Geeze, I am not intentionally attempting to flame Mercury here but man..... Between the screwed up windshield, paint, missing items and fake oil gauges I am really starting to get setamed
o: Mercury may not care about their reputation but I would THINK Autometer would be concerned about their name. I have always thought highly of them. I can't believe they would let Mercury use their gauges in this way if they knew about it. It would rather they had left the gauge out completely than to try and make you think it was real. I thought it was damped since it did not move much, even under heavy acceleration. Mercury is definitely not gonna win any J.D. Power & Associates awards from ME.
Geeze, I am not intentionally attempting to flame Mercury here but man..... Between the screwed up windshield, paint, missing items and fake oil gauges I am really starting to get setamed
o: Mercury may not care about their reputation but I would THINK Autometer would be concerned about their name. I have always thought highly of them. I can't believe they would let Mercury use their gauges in this way if they knew about it. It would rather they had left the gauge out completely than to try and make you think it was real. I thought it was damped since it did not move much, even under heavy acceleration. Mercury is definitely not gonna win any J.D. Power & Associates awards from ME.
martyo
MO derator
Has anyone attempted to "break b@lls" with the dealer on this issue (in part by playing the role of dumb as to the truth about the gage?
My car will go in for service soon and I would like to try this approach before I put the chip, gears, etc in (when the dealer could blame the mods for the problem).
Comments?
My car will go in for service soon and I would like to try this approach before I put the chip, gears, etc in (when the dealer could blame the mods for the problem).
Comments?
SergntMac
Shelby GT X2--Back In Black
stanleyk said:
The distinction between a working oil gauge and a real working oil pressure gauge, was lost in the bowels of design long ago, to the point that maybe even the engineer who thought of adding gauges to the car to begin with, didn't consider the difference. I wouldn't expect any dealer or a salesman, or a factory rep, to be any more enlightened over this. They promised us gauges, we got gauges. If the gauge moves when you start the car, it's working. End story right there.
Macon Marauder
Voice of Cold Hard Reason
Probably the odd man out here again, but...
I know this deal with the oil gauge bothers some people. But not me. First time I saw the gauge cluster I thought, "That's nice, but why the heck are they way down there?" They look sorta cool, not very practical though. I almost never look down there. My conclusion: must be there for looks.
Then when I read here that the oil gauge was "fake" it made sense. They really are mostly cosmetic.
Honestly: I'd have preferred a "normal" needle gauge up in the dash like my TBird or 'Stang. They're not numbered, but at least I see them all the time.
As always, just IMHO.
I know this deal with the oil gauge bothers some people. But not me. First time I saw the gauge cluster I thought, "That's nice, but why the heck are they way down there?" They look sorta cool, not very practical though. I almost never look down there. My conclusion: must be there for looks.
Then when I read here that the oil gauge was "fake" it made sense. They really are mostly cosmetic.
Honestly: I'd have preferred a "normal" needle gauge up in the dash like my TBird or 'Stang. They're not numbered, but at least I see them all the time.
As always, just IMHO.
RF Overlord
73 is the best number.
Macon Marauder said:
Yeah, but the ones in your T-bird and 'stang are fake, too..unless they're more than 15 years old...
DougKing77
Member
I think it boils down to...
The fact that Mercury obviously went to the trouble to make someone think it was a real oil pressure gauge and then left out what would probably cost them $10-$15 in parts to make a TRUE working oil pressure gauge. I don’t know if they thought no one would catch on to this or what, but you would think Mercury would realize that people who buy these cars want to monitor vital engine data. Sure, I don’t dwell on the oil pressure gauge but if it suddenly drops 15-20 psi you can bet it will get my attention.
The fact that Mercury obviously went to the trouble to make someone think it was a real oil pressure gauge and then left out what would probably cost them $10-$15 in parts to make a TRUE working oil pressure gauge. I don’t know if they thought no one would catch on to this or what, but you would think Mercury would realize that people who buy these cars want to monitor vital engine data. Sure, I don’t dwell on the oil pressure gauge but if it suddenly drops 15-20 psi you can bet it will get my attention.
Macon Marauder
Voice of Cold Hard Reason
Um, yeah. The 'Bird is an 87 and the needle is "real." But even on the 'Stang, the indicator is up high on the dash with the other instruments so I can see it. That's the point (one of them anyway) that I was trying to make.
W
WolfeBros
Guest
^^^ What Doug said ^^^ :up:
FordNut
Contributing Member
Well, maybe another way to look at it is FoMoCo wanted to reduce service claims? How many people that are not very knowledgeable and understanding about oil pressure fluctuation with temperature, engine speed, etc. would take their car in for service when they saw the pressure fluctuate like I've seen? I'm just thankful there is a nice-looking place to mount the real gauges and they are basically a bolt-in replacement.
W
WolfeBros
Guest
I hear what your saying FordNut. Maybe they should go back to idiot lights ?? (properly named I think...lol ) Back in the 60's all of us motorheads put the Stewart Warner gauges on under the dash so we COULD monitor engine performance because all we had was the idiot lights. Car makers finally catch on.....thinks its sexy.....sex sells so they add real gauges instead of or in conjunction with lights. Rewind back a few years.......some genius at Ford shows a way to save a few bucks by putting in a gauge that acts like a real indication but as we know is not.
I know this thread runs on and on but it was the way we were duped into thinking we really got real gauges this time that pisses me off.
This answer is no way intended to flame you FordNut. You obviously are a "car guy" and know what you are doing. I too have bought the real gauges and will install them. You and I are on the same page.
My last .02 cents on this is that the argument that Ford has always had inaccurate oil pressure indications is a lame one. This time we were told to believe different in the advertising and by luring us in with a name brand gauge manufacturer well known for their accurate indications of engine monitoring. I would have much preferred the real gauge in the MM and for those that do not know what the gauge is telling them, all it takes is ONE page in the owners manual to explain it. (and the lack of a check engine light for no oil pressure is beyond me). FMC wants it both ways.....they think we are too stupid to react to what a gauge is telling us but lose a motor for lack of oil pressure and they will argue with you that you weren't monitoring the gauges. Go figure. I am done on this topic. Flame away boys.
Anyway I know I am right.....lol
I know this thread runs on and on but it was the way we were duped into thinking we really got real gauges this time that pisses me off.
This answer is no way intended to flame you FordNut. You obviously are a "car guy" and know what you are doing. I too have bought the real gauges and will install them. You and I are on the same page.
My last .02 cents on this is that the argument that Ford has always had inaccurate oil pressure indications is a lame one. This time we were told to believe different in the advertising and by luring us in with a name brand gauge manufacturer well known for their accurate indications of engine monitoring. I would have much preferred the real gauge in the MM and for those that do not know what the gauge is telling them, all it takes is ONE page in the owners manual to explain it. (and the lack of a check engine light for no oil pressure is beyond me). FMC wants it both ways.....they think we are too stupid to react to what a gauge is telling us but lose a motor for lack of oil pressure and they will argue with you that you weren't monitoring the gauges. Go figure. I am done on this topic. Flame away boys.
Anyway I know I am right.....lol
prchrman
PONTIFICATOR
Haven't had a real gauge since the 1/8" tubing blew of the back of the gauge on my 72 chevy truck and soaked my pants and shoes with really old black quaker state. Does anybody use the REAL oil pressure gauges anymore? Probably not. Would be nice to know real pressure though.
W
WolfeBros
Guest
In a word Willie yes. The secret sauce is in the sending unit. With the right sending unit and gauge, you do get an accurate oil pressure indication without running the tubing like we used to do. Autometer makes such a gauge and sending unit.
M
mtnh
Guest
Hey Fordnut,
which headlamp part number did you get for the silverstars? Is there only one bulb per side now on these rigs? So a part # 9007ST would be what we need for the MM (to see at night)?
Thanks.
Mike
00 LS MTX
03 MM ATX
which headlamp part number did you get for the silverstars? Is there only one bulb per side now on these rigs? So a part # 9007ST would be what we need for the MM (to see at night)?
Thanks.
Mike
00 LS MTX
03 MM ATX