Oil Pressure guage not reading?? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Momboy007 · 10-23-2008, 05:27 PM

Hello All,
My oil pressure guage stopped working, It is not electric, but rather a mechanical. I have never seen one go out. Is it possible the line could be clogged? if so, How do you clean it out. Oh Yea, I do know the motor has pressure, it is making no noise after a 20 Mile Drive, when I noticed no pressure.
If the guage is indeed bad, do I have to pull the entire cluster apart?
Thanks all in advance,
Rick

ChevLoRay · 10-23-2008, 05:35 PM

The mechanical guage has a small metal line that runs from the back of the block, through the firewall, to the back of the guage. I suppose it is possible for the line to stop up, but my thinking is it would be out of the normal realm of things to go wrong. Still, strange things happen.

The only way I can think of to service the guage would be to pull the instrument panel and that would let you remove/replace it....whether or not it is mechanical or electric.

If the guage is electric, it could simply be a sending unit. Again, the sending unit is located at the back of block, on top of the block. It could be that the sending unit is leaking oil, which is not unusual, and the oil got onto the contact and insulated the lead from it and killed the current flow. That would stop an electric guage from working.

Momboy007 · 10-23-2008, 05:38 PM

Hello Chevloray,
It is a mechanical guage for sure
Rick

ChevLoRay · 10-23-2008, 06:22 PM

Still gotta pull the dash panel.

What you may do is to get an aftermarket guage and use it as a test guage to see.

Replacement guages are available from the vendors on the board, as well as others.

byrd · 10-23-2008, 06:28 PM

You do not have to pull the cluster out, just unhook the oil line to the gauge and then remove the 3 1/4" screws holding the plate that the oil gauge is mounted to and the plate will come right out, gauge and all. it is that easy!!

**mr48chev** · 10-23-2008, 06:36 PM

I'd go with ChevLoRay's suggestion first. That will tell you what the oil pressure is.

Byrd must a bit younger and a lot more limber than I am as I don't think I could get myself up under my dash to swap out a gage anymore. If you can get up under the dash to do it it would save a couple of hours but if you pull the instrument panel out you can replace burned out bulbs and clean things up at the same time.

cdowns · 10-23-2008, 07:18 PM

just unhook the line from the gauge start engine and you'll find out quick if the line is clogged

if you end up with a squirter than reinstall and order new gauge

Momboy007 · 10-23-2008, 09:42 PM

Thanks all for the help.
I think I will pull the guage and install a new one to see if it is bad or not
Rick

**leddzepp** · 10-23-2008, 10:06 PM

Pretty easy to pull just the guage as opposed to the entire cluster. CDowns suggestion may be messy, but it will help solve the problem. I would pull the coil wire and just crank the engine over real quick to see if it squirts. Hold a rag in front of it of course.

10-23-2008, 05:27 PM	#1
Momboy007 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Southern California Posts: 82	Oil Pressure guage not reading?? Hello All, My oil pressure guage stopped working, It is not electric, but rather a mechanical. I have never seen one go out. Is it possible the line could be clogged? if so, How do you clean it out. Oh Yea, I do know the motor has pressure, it is making no noise after a 20 Mile Drive, when I noticed no pressure. If the guage is indeed bad, do I have to pull the entire cluster apart? Thanks all in advance, Rick

10-23-2008, 05:35 PM	#2
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	Re: Oil Pressure guage not reading?? The mechanical guage has a small metal line that runs from the back of the block, through the firewall, to the back of the guage. I suppose it is possible for the line to stop up, but my thinking is it would be out of the normal realm of things to go wrong. Still, strange things happen. The only way I can think of to service the guage would be to pull the instrument panel and that would let you remove/replace it....whether or not it is mechanical or electric. If the guage is electric, it could simply be a sending unit. Again, the sending unit is located at the back of block, on top of the block. It could be that the sending unit is leaking oil, which is not unusual, and the oil got onto the contact and insulated the lead from it and killed the current flow. That would stop an electric guage from working. __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was. Last edited by ChevLoRay; 10-23-2008 at 05:36 PM.

10-23-2008, 05:38 PM	#3
Momboy007 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Southern California Posts: 82	Re: Oil Pressure guage not reading?? Hello Chevloray, It is a mechanical guage for sure Rick

10-23-2008, 06:22 PM	#4
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	Re: Oil Pressure guage not reading?? Still gotta pull the dash panel. What you may do is to get an aftermarket guage and use it as a test guage to see. Replacement guages are available from the vendors on the board, as well as others. __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

10-23-2008, 06:36 PM	#6
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,715	Re: Oil Pressure guage not reading?? I'd go with ChevLoRay's suggestion first. That will tell you what the oil pressure is. Byrd must a bit younger and a lot more limber than I am as I don't think I could get myself up under my dash to swap out a gage anymore. If you can get up under the dash to do it it would save a couple of hours but if you pull the instrument panel out you can replace burned out bulbs and clean things up at the same time.

10-23-2008, 07:18 PM	#7
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: Oil Pressure guage not reading?? just unhook the line from the gauge start engine and you'll find out quick if the line is clogged if you end up with a squirter than reinstall and order new gauge __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY Last edited by cdowns; 10-23-2008 at 10:15 PM.

10-23-2008, 09:42 PM	#8
Momboy007 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Southern California Posts: 82	Re: Oil Pressure guage not reading?? Thanks all for the help. I think I will pull the guage and install a new one to see if it is bad or not Rick

10-23-2008, 10:06 PM	#9
leddzepp Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern Cal Posts: 20,033	Re: Oil Pressure guage not reading?? Pretty easy to pull just the guage as opposed to the entire cluster. CDowns suggestion may be messy, but it will help solve the problem. I would pull the coil wire and just crank the engine over real quick to see if it squirts. Hold a rag in front of it of course.



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