Fake Oil Pressure Gauge Question.

[ctrcbob]

OK guys. I know the "Feel Good" Oil Pressure Gauge is a fake. I did a search of past posts and between them, and watching what my gauge does, I know it gives fake readings.

What I want to know is:
1. How is this fake gauge wired up?
2. With ignition on, but engine off, gauge shows zero.
3. Start engine and gauge goes up to it's normal position.
4. If I had engine on, then stalled engine, would the gauge still show pressure?
5. Is the gauge reading something on the engine to know it must show a fake pressure while engine is running but no pressure with ignition on but engine not running?
6. If you had an oil pump failure (very rare) or lost oil pressure for any reason, what would this fake gauge read? Would it still read normal or drop to zero? Also note that there is not even a low pressure warning lamp.

You would think that for the cost of installing the fake gauge, for the same money, they could have installed a real gauge.

Sorry if this has been covered before, but I could not find answers by doing a search.

[King Fubar]

The fake gauge is conected to a sending unit that is basically a pressure switch. What I mean is that the sending unit has a solid diaphram on it taht is activated with about 6 lbs. of pressure. The gauge guts I'm not sure about all I know is you have to change the guts from a real one for it to work and put in the sending unit for the real one.


So basically if your car stalls or is not pumping oil you have no pressure and your gauge don't work.

[Shaft333]

The gauge is connected to a sensor and is listed as a piece of functional indication of oil pressure. Albeit I believe it's just an indicator of adequate pressure vs. no pressure.

It is a slow gauge, so if you had a momentary lapse in pressure - you might not ever see it drop on the gauge. Watch it when you shut the car off.

What question I'd like to add to your list is what is the output range of the sender vs. pressure? Is it linear in any range? Or is it the same sender that would be attached to a light - a pressure switch? - edit I guess my question has been answered as I wrote it.

[RF Overlord]

The OEM oil pressure gauge is a fake. As King Fubar said, as long as you have more than ~6 lbs of pressure, the switch (it's not a sender) closes and you get a "normal" reading on the gauge, which is around 60 lbs, IIRC. There is a detailed write-up about how to convert the stock fake gauge to a real working one in the FAQ.

You would think that for the cost of installing the fake gauge, for the same money, they could have installed a real gauge.

You're right...the correct AutoMeter replacement gauge and sender kit is only about $55 from Summit or Jeg's. The problem is that Ford hasn't put a real functioning oil pressure gauge in any car they've sold since at least 1990. Their reasoning is that they were tired of having people complain to the dealer that something was wrong with their motor because the oil pressure kept varying (D'OH!)...so Ford's absolutely brilliant response was to install oil pressure monitoring that ALWAYS reads perfect pressure. What a lame cop-out, Ford...

[Shaft333]

I can actually understand the decision.
Working in this industry AND hearing the stories about the general masses based on stories from my fiancee (who has to deal with them)... it's better this way for Ford.

If anything it would be nice if Ford offered a replacement kit that would match the volt gage.

[RF Overlord]

If anything it would be nice if Ford offered a replacement kit that would match the volt gage.

The replacement AutoMeter gauge kit (P/N 4327) is an almost exact match...most people will not be able to tell the difference in the daylight. The major difference is that the OEM gauges are green back-lit, while the replacement uses perimeter lighting. Some members have swapped face-plates between the old and new gauges, so they end up with a real working gauge that IS an exact match to the voltmeter. I actually find that the replacement gauge is more legible in the daylight than the stock one was.

BTW, it's only the oil pressure gauge that's fake...the OEM voltmeter does actually work, but replacing it with the aftermarket AutoMeter version keeps the two gauges matched...and it's only $35 from Summit...

[Joe Walsh]

The problem is that Ford hasn't put a real functioning oil pressure gauge in any car they've sold since at least 1990. Their reasoning is that they were tired of having people complain to the dealer that something was wrong with their motor because the oil pressure kept varying (D'OH!)...

What?...HUH?....People ACTUALLY LOOK at the gauges!??

I feel that looking at the gauges is VERY distracting to the driver.......
I mean they are already busy with the cell phone, DVD player, newspaper, make-up mirror and occasionally even the road ahead!

[ctrcbob]

Thanks for all the replys. I printed out the instructions for the modification (plus other modifications) and when the time comes that I have time, I will do the mod.

Great site. Great information. Thanks again.

[Mike Poore]

You would think that for the cost of installing the fake gauge, for the same money, they could have installed a real gauge.

Sorry if this has been covered before, but I could not find answers by doing a search.

I'm glad you asked, Bob, because I was gonna go and do the same search., 'cause it's way past time to swap it out. Just looking at that stupid thing pisses me off; y'know? Heaven forbid, anyone would actually want to know if their high dollar, super sophisticated engine was functioning properly.

[King Fubar]

Heaven forbid, anyone would actually want to know if their high dollar, super sophisticated engine was functioning properly.

You should know by now Mike, it makes TOO MUCH sense.

[chasrein01]

What?...HUH?....People ACTUALLY LOOK at the gauges!??

I feel that looking at the gauges is VERY distracting to the driver.......
I mean they are already busy with the cell phone, DVD player, newspaper, make-up mirror and occasionally even the road ahead!

You forgot - eating, drinking, looking at the person in the passenger seat that they are talking to....everything but keeping an eye on the road.

[BigCars4Ever]

The OEM oil pressure gauge is a fake. As King Fubar said, as long as you have more than ~6 lbs of pressure, the switch (it's not a sender) closes and you get a "normal" reading on the gauge, which is around 60 lbs, IIRC. There is a detailed write-up about how to convert the stock fake gauge to a real working one in the FAQ.



You're right...the correct AutoMeter replacement gauge and sender kit is only about $55 from Summit or Jeg's. The problem is that Ford hasn't put a real functioning oil pressure gauge in any car they've sold since at least 1990. Their reasoning is that they were tired of having people complain to the dealer that something was wrong with their motor because the oil pressure kept varying (D'OH!)...so Ford's absolutely brilliant response was to install oil pressure monitoring that ALWAYS reads perfect pressure. What a lame cop-out, Ford...

Any thought on this? http://www.crownvic.net/ubbthreads/s...rue#Post779210
In this link the vic guys talk about shorting a 20 ohm resistor Ford puts in the gauge to make it work with a sending unit. Anyone with a stock gauge that can look to see if there is this 20 ohm resistor on the circuit board?

[MENINBLK]

BTW, it's only the oil pressure gauge that's fake...the OEM voltmeter does actually work, but replacing it with the aftermarket AutoMeter version keeps the two gauges matched...and it's only $35 from Summit...

The OEM Volmeter is not accurate at all.
It can read anywhere from 1 - 1.5 volts LESS than what the actual charging system is producing.
You are better off replacing BOTH of them.
It is so easy to do.

[RF Overlord]

the vic guys talk about shorting a 20 ohm resistor Ford puts in the gauge to make it work with a sending unit. Anyone with a stock gauge that can look to see if there is this 20 ohm resistor on the circuit board?

That mod only works for the in-dash oil gauge that the CV and GM have...our oil pressure gauge was custom made by AutoMeter to Ford's specs and is not modifiable (is there such a word?) in this manner.

The OEM Volmeter is not accurate at all.
It can read anywhere from 1 - 1.5 volts LESS than what the actual charging system is producing.

I guess I must have been lucky, then...mine reads accurately.

[Vortex]

Had no idea it was a bogus guage til I read it here. What a dumb idea from Ford.