Anyone know about Autometer sending units?

[granatl]

After noticing a much-more-than-usual oil spill on the garage floor, I decided to look for an oil leak. Long story short, I saw that my Autometer oil pressure sending unit is seeping oil out by the electrical contact (sending unit is vertical, with threaded fitting on bottom and contact on top, underneath the turbo). At the base is a brass nut (edges like a quarter) that holds the stud in place. On top of that is the crimp-on connector with wire, and on top of that is a small (maybe 5/16") nut. I reached in with some vice grips and tightened both nuts, but that didn't help. Still seeping quickly while the car is running. (I'll guess about 1 teaspoon per minute)

Does anyone know if it's OK to put an O-ring under the base brass nut or will it insulate the ground contact, causing the gauge not to function? Or should I not be so cheap and just go buy another sending unit?

 

[mikestertwo]

Buy another sending unit. :smile:

 

[Silver 'T' Top]

Jack, Jack, Jack,.... just buy another sending unit!! How is it doing otherwise?

 

[granatl]

Well, I've got to drive it all of 150 miles since the tranny rebuild before I accidentally installed my "auto slick track creator." Now as I look at my garage floor and think about the Exxon Valdez, I can sit behind the wheel listening to Rush's Red Barchetta, making vroom vroom noises...

 

[Silver 'T' Top]

Well, Now as I look at my garage floor and think about the Exxon Valdez, I can sit behind the wheel listening to Rush's Red Barchetta, making vroom vroom noises...

Uh oh!!!

 

[granatl]

So. Cal Speed Shop actually had the sending unit in stock, and for cheaper than any place I could find online. Woohoo!

Now, here's the twist. I think I now know what blew out the diaphragm (I presume) in the last one. Cold idle shows at 75-85 PSI. A quick throttle blip to roughly ~3k pegs that gauge into 100. My first thought was that I got the wrong sending unit. Looking at the old one (just like the new one) both are stamped 100 PSI. The old one doesn't have the 2442 model number on it, like the new one does. Anyone know for sure the correct sending unit for the Autometer Phantom Electric Oil Pressure gauge?

If my oil pressure really is this high, then it's been this way since the last rebuild (approaching 2 years), so I don't have anything to worry about, right?

 

[mikestertwo]

If my oil pressure really is this high, then it's been this way since the last rebuild (approaching 2 years), so I don't have anything to worry about, right?

If the pressure is really that high then I would worry a little bit. What's the pressure when the engine is hot? Too much pressure will put excessive stress on the cam sensor and the thrust surface on the cam. Have you verified the pressure with a mechanical gauge?

 

[granatl]

It seems to be a consistent 25 PSI higher. Hot idle is just under 50, 2500 RPM cruise is closer to 75, etc.
I'll write to Autometer and see what they tell me.