An oil gauge is used to indicate oil pressure levels. It is commonly installed on the dashboard of a vehicle in order to help the driver to properly monitor the oil pressure levels. In normal conditions the needle on your oil pressure gauge will remain in the same position and you will become used to it being there. That being said, the installation of an oil filled pressure gauge is highly important. You need to be aware when the needle begins to move downwards as this will normally happen long before the warning light comes on and gives you more time to prevent damage to your engine. When the warning light on the gauge lights up, it is an indication that the oil pressure level in the engine is very low; hence it must be replenished immediately to avoid engine damage.
Installing an oil gauge so that you can keep an eye on your oil pressure is not the simplest task and is probably best carried out by a professional, but if you want to do it yourself here is some information given by pressure gauge manufacturers that may help.
Whether you will be installing a mechanical or electric contact pressure gauge, it would be ideal that you know how to properly integrate it into your vehicle system. To help you accomplish that, here is a detailed installation guide that you can follow:
Step one: It is critical that you know where to properly place the gauge. You should know that the port where the gauge must be placed is normally situated six inches behind the vehicle’s oil filter. In order to easily find the port, you may have to remove the side front wheel on the passenger’s side. Once it has been removed, you will see a silver-colored filter (located behind the factory oil pressure switch) that has two wires attached to the electrical connector.
Step two: After locating the port, you have to first drain the oil before removing the electric connector present on the pressure switch.
Step three: Once done, you may now disconnect the switch. The rest of the procedure will depend on the type of gauge that you need to install. Normally, pressure gauges include an installation manual, which you have to carefully read and understand, in order to ensure proper installation.
Step four: When the oil gauge has already been installed, make a test run to know if it is already functional. If you are unsure that you did the right thing, it is best that you find a professional mechanic to do the installation for you.