Oil Pressure
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Registered User
Joined: Mar 2007
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Oil Pressure
Hello
I have a 1992 dakota 2wd, with the 318, I was just wondering if anyone has installed an aftermarket oil pressure gauge?
Also does anyone know what the oil pressure numbers ahould be?
I did a compression test on the truck and the numbers are excellent, I was using Esso oil 5w 30 and last oil change changed to 5w30 quaker state, it is running fine but on the factory oil pressure gauge it is reading a little low. So I was wondering what oils do some of you guys run?
Thanks in advance for all the help.
I have a 1992 dakota 2wd, with the 318, I was just wondering if anyone has installed an aftermarket oil pressure gauge?
Also does anyone know what the oil pressure numbers ahould be?
I did a compression test on the truck and the numbers are excellent, I was using Esso oil 5w 30 and last oil change changed to 5w30 quaker state, it is running fine but on the factory oil pressure gauge it is reading a little low. So I was wondering what oils do some of you guys run?
Thanks in advance for all the help.
Veteran
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 461
Likes: 1
From: CA
RE: Oil Pressure
A rule of thumb is 10PSI of oil pressure for every 1000 RPM
The gauage is propley low cause your running a lower viscosity oil than stock the recommened viscosity for these trucks is 10W-30
And me personally would never punish my truck by putting anything it from quaker state or penzoil I've heard some nasty thing's from engine rebuilder and machinsts. I run AMSoil sysnthetic blend 10W-30 ya its synthetic so it gonna run little hotter but I've noticed better gains with it.
The gauage is propley low cause your running a lower viscosity oil than stock the recommened viscosity for these trucks is 10W-30
And me personally would never punish my truck by putting anything it from quaker state or penzoil I've heard some nasty thing's from engine rebuilder and machinsts. I run AMSoil sysnthetic blend 10W-30 ya its synthetic so it gonna run little hotter but I've noticed better gains with it.
Professional
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 112
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From:
RE: Oil Pressure
Oil is oil, something folks forget about weights is that they are in relation to temperature. A 5w30 will have the same consistancy at any given high engine temperature as a 10w30. But, it will flow better than the 10w30 when the engine is cold. Hence the two numbers; a 5w30 flows like a 5 weight will when it's cold and a 10w30 flows like a 10 weight will when it's cold. But both flow like 30 weight will when it's hot. In the old days they just had single weight oils, and these ratings are derived from that. Now personally, I'd be running a thicker oil just because you've got an older engine will looser clearances than when it was new. So a 10w30 may lubricate it better when it's cold. I run 10w30 in mine, and depending how old the vehicle I happen to drive is I'll even run 15w40 in summer and 5w40 in winter.
As for the aftermarket oil pressure gauge, you don't actually have to install it if you'd rather keep your interior looking tasteful...just get a cheap mechanical gauge (you can pick them up for 10 or 15 bucks), hang it from the hood, and plumb it into where the stock sensor reads from. Then you can check it from under the hood, and when you're done just remove the mechanical gauge and put the factory sensor back in. Rule of thumb is 10psi per 1000rpm, and it is normal to see low readings at idle. One more thing, from my experience I don't think the stock oil pressure gauge is particularly accurate...
As for the aftermarket oil pressure gauge, you don't actually have to install it if you'd rather keep your interior looking tasteful...just get a cheap mechanical gauge (you can pick them up for 10 or 15 bucks), hang it from the hood, and plumb it into where the stock sensor reads from. Then you can check it from under the hood, and when you're done just remove the mechanical gauge and put the factory sensor back in. Rule of thumb is 10psi per 1000rpm, and it is normal to see low readings at idle. One more thing, from my experience I don't think the stock oil pressure gauge is particularly accurate...