"Idiot Gauges"
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Elder User
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"Idiot Gauges"
i have done a bit of research on the "idiot guage" and am considering adding an aftermarket oil pressure guage. at that note, should i replace just that or should i get the three cluster thing for 30 or so bucks? it has oil press, water temp, and volt. i guess what i am asking is are all three of these idiot guages or just the oil press.?
also, for those of you who have added guages, where do you put them? i haven't yet decided where i want to have these hanging out (i also have a tach to add).
thanks for the help/suggestions.
chris
also, for those of you who have added guages, where do you put them? i haven't yet decided where i want to have these hanging out (i also have a tach to add).
thanks for the help/suggestions.
chris
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I have a 90 F150 and I'm not sure if my oil pressure guage is an "idiot guage" or not. The needle seems to fluctuate when I drive. For example, last night when my truck was cold, the oil pressure was on the lower end of "normal". But when it heated up, the guage read that the pressure went up a little bit. Does the fact that the guage moves around often mean that it's a real guage or maybe I have other problems?
Postmaster
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From: La Verne, California
bks
It's been my experience that Oil Pressure changes depending on what the engine is doing @ the time, Idle pressure is Low, excellerating pressure is increasing, steady rpm's while driving @ a continuous speed a steady Higher pressure w/o fluctutaion.
4.9I6
If you deside to put aftermarket gauges in, if you look around you'll find that there are Some High Tech Tach's that Incorperate Water Temp, Oil Pressuer & the like into it.
You might want to look into that & mount it on your Steering Column, so when you glance @ your Speedo you see your other indicators in the same glance.
It's been my experience that Oil Pressure changes depending on what the engine is doing @ the time, Idle pressure is Low, excellerating pressure is increasing, steady rpm's while driving @ a continuous speed a steady Higher pressure w/o fluctutaion.
4.9I6
If you deside to put aftermarket gauges in, if you look around you'll find that there are Some High Tech Tach's that Incorperate Water Temp, Oil Pressuer & the like into it.
You might want to look into that & mount it on your Steering Column, so when you glance @ your Speedo you see your other indicators in the same glance.
Last edited by Col Flashman; Mar 7, 2006 at 02:05 PM.
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Oil pressure will be high when the oil is cold.
pressure will be lowest when the oil is hot and at idle.
pressure will be high when at mid rpm and should remain the same through high rpm.
The system incorporates a pressure relief valve. I have a "real" gauge, the truck runs at 45-50psi at idle with cold oil, and about 25psi with hot oil at idle. It climbs to full pressure at around 2200rpm.
I think they are called idiot lights due to the following scenario:
lets say someone with little to no automotive knowledge is driving around their car, and the oil pressure gauge shows 8psi at idle, and 10 psi at 3000rpm. That reading means absolutely nothing to them, so they keep driving. Now if a light showing an oil tin came on, a light that usually was never on, that would indicate a problem. these people are the "idiots"
pressure will be lowest when the oil is hot and at idle.
pressure will be high when at mid rpm and should remain the same through high rpm.
The system incorporates a pressure relief valve. I have a "real" gauge, the truck runs at 45-50psi at idle with cold oil, and about 25psi with hot oil at idle. It climbs to full pressure at around 2200rpm.
I think they are called idiot lights due to the following scenario:
lets say someone with little to no automotive knowledge is driving around their car, and the oil pressure gauge shows 8psi at idle, and 10 psi at 3000rpm. That reading means absolutely nothing to them, so they keep driving. Now if a light showing an oil tin came on, a light that usually was never on, that would indicate a problem. these people are the "idiots"
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lol... I would steer cleer of the multi guage guages. Those that have the Tach, oil pressure, water temp, or vac all in 1. Not only are they cheeply made, if you have 1 of the systems fail, the whole gauge gose out.
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From: Paulding County
Originally Posted by Col Flashman
They are called "Idiot Lights", as they only Flash-on when something happens. 
I was going to start my own thread but seen this one and thougth I would ask in here, thanks.
Oh and what would cause the oil light to come on? Mine hasnt, i just want to know so if it ever does.
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excellent...mine is reading around 48 psi or so. the guages i was talking about are the set of three guages mounted into a small holder type thing, like this:
I ended up getting this:
and this:
i went electrical for the oil pressure gauge as it seemed easier to install with less possibilities for leaks. it was a bit more expensive but i wanted to get this baby installed asap before i go breaking in this new engine (i want to make sure it is getting proper oil for break in!).
as soon as i started the beast up, the oil press. guage jumped up to a smidget (that is a technical word
) below 50. i am pleased. from a buyer's standpoint, both guages were fairly simple to install and the directions that came with them were just enough to get the job done right.
chris
I ended up getting this:
and this:
i went electrical for the oil pressure gauge as it seemed easier to install with less possibilities for leaks. it was a bit more expensive but i wanted to get this baby installed asap before i go breaking in this new engine (i want to make sure it is getting proper oil for break in!).
as soon as i started the beast up, the oil press. guage jumped up to a smidget (that is a technical word
) below 50. i am pleased. from a buyer's standpoint, both guages were fairly simple to install and the directions that came with them were just enough to get the job done right.chris