guy_geo Posted March 1, 2002 Share #1 Posted March 1, 2002 Another question. Is the gauge on the dashbord acurate? What should be the reading? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Royce Posted March 1, 2002 Share #2 Posted March 1, 2002 Is it accurate? Maybe or maybe not! First check your oil level! I have heard of gauges acting up but usually a problem with the oil reading is the sending unit. My motor is not stock and I have a ZX high volume oil pump so the reading may be different from yours. I usually see a reading of about 1/2 at about 2000 RPM and it usually goes up to 3/4 or a little more when on the freeway, between 2800-3500. Over that I am usually watching my mirrors more than the oil gage! Is mine accurate? I don't know but it seems to work okay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2ManyZs Posted March 1, 2002 Share #3 Posted March 1, 2002 In my opinion the only truly accurate oil pressure gauge is a mechanical one. I have had Z's that showed 0 at idle and some that showed almost pegged the gauge at idle. Not only is the gauge somewhat innacurate the sending unit is always suspect. Sorry, never trusted anything electrical(especially in a car that is now over 30 years old) so the only way to find out is to take a reading of the stock gauge and then check the oil pressure with a mechanical one and see how much difference there is. You can pick up a decent mechanical gauge at an auto parts store for 20 bucks or so and hook it up temporarily and go from there. Why take a chance on ruining an engine whe you could have saved it for 20 dollars? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guy_geo Posted March 1, 2002 Author Share #4 Posted March 1, 2002 Well said and a good advice, but I might use the car as a dayly driver this summer, so was my point for asking that. And yes, I usually check my oil level on my Sentra SE once a week, but I guess I will have to be more careful with my baby Z. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter Posted March 4, 2002 Share #5 Posted March 4, 2002 I was sitting in the inspection line, and I noticed that the oil guage was reading 0 at low (8-850 rpm) idle. WHAT?!!?? heart attack time. I raced the engine and the needle came up. I failed inspection, so my mind was not on the oil on the way home. Guess I have to pick up a mechanical guage. At 2K rpm, the needle is about a third to half. Glad I found this thread.peter73 240 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2ManyZs Posted March 5, 2002 Share #6 Posted March 5, 2002 Peter, you could just try a new sending unit, they have a tendancy to get gummed up with sludge for one reason or another. It is fairly cheap, however it will never be as accurate as a mechanical gauge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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