As usual, I bring another odd and random question to the table.

Clay and I were discussing the set of gauges I wanted and what gauge I would pick up as my 4th gauge. I was leaning pretty heavily towards oil psi but Clay suggested oil temp since its a better indicator of when the engine is warm and there is a factory oil pressure gauge on the dash.

This may or may not be true with these trucks but I know that in my 01 Mustang (and I would assume it was the same from 99-04) that my factory oil pressure gauge was a dummy gauge. If you had more then 5 psi of oil pressure the gauge would read and if it went bellow that then it went into the red. There was no in between. When I mentioned that to Clay he had suggested that maybe I should bring it up on the forum and thus here I am.


I know I always bring up my experiences with my Mustang but being that all of these are the work of Ford I figured I couldn't be too certain on anything. Especially stupid little things like this.

 

What gauges are you set on? Pyro, boost, tranny temp?

 

Yep, but I was going to get a quad pillar instead of upgrading later. Figured I would add oil psi as the next important one.

 

I'm getting the quad from Clay on Tuesday. Plus the GPR LED light. I'm so excited about the trip I can't sleep. Just like waiting for Christmas. lol

 

I will probably be visiting Clay sometime shortly after that.

 

Why dont you fill the 4th up with the DP Tuner gauge lookin' switch?!

 

Well then I would need a DP tuner. While I want one, I need to cool down my jets for a little while. Plus I though the switch could hang off the gauge not replace the gauge no?


But going back to the main issue. If the factory gauge is a dummy gauge, then oil psi would probably still be my next in line.

 

Get the oil temp... Oil pressure is fun to watch, but the nice thing about a PSD is it will not run without oil pressure.

I would get Fuel Pressure before Oil temp myself.


To anwser your question, oil PSI is dampend so much it does not move out of normal.

 

It can if you choose that mounting option. But if you get the gauge switch instead of the regular rectangular switch you would be able to fill in that 4th hole...

 

Well, I don't much about the 7.3 but with my 4.6 gasser the oil psi should go up and down with RPM. On the factory gauge it never budged which should have alerted most people.

I can't remember which one Clay and I settled on, but I assure you I will be buying more.

 

I'm pretty sure the oil pressure "gauge" is like the rest of them -- glorified idiot light. It sets on the same normal spot for a huge range like 7-90psi (I'm pulling that out of thin air, but it's something like that). I'm getting that Terminator Scan-Gauge for my 4th spot. Monitors pretty much everything.

Have a look:
Terminator Engineering

EDIT: Just for further clarification, the PCM monitors all those sensors and tells the stock gauges where to set the needle. Makes for next to worthless gauges, but with something like the Scan Gauge, you can see all the real sensor inputs, except coolant temp on autos for some inconceivable reason (requires a secondary sensor).

 

Thanks Joe, you pretty much confirm what I figured. I would like to get something like that eventually but for now I am going to keep it on the cheaper end. It is so easy to get carried away with spending.

 

I got pryo/trans/boost. and my next purchases will be as follows.
Fuel Pressure
HPOP
Oil temp

If oil pressure drops your truck is gonna do b/c it will run out of fuel..

I hope this helps

 

The Scangauge will not show oil pressure, Joe.

Yes, the OP is correct. The oil pressure sensor is a SWITCH. It opens the circuit at anything less than 7 PSI. If you've got at least 7 PSI, the circuit closes and the gauge needle moves into the "normal" range. Thank God that Ford did something right. A gauge that a customer won't complain about. Thank you GM for an idiotic gauge that somewhat works and the warranty work (for no problem found) that ensues.

I too would opt for a fuel pressure gauge (like the "gauge *****" said) since it IS important for proper operation. Oil temp....maybe. The PCM uses that for fueling requirements so the Scangauge would work for that like Joe suggested.