How-to: Installing a mechanical Autometer Oil Pressure Gauge

SON240sx Automotive
1

When installing an Autometer oil pressure gauge (or any other non-metric gauge),
you need a conversion fitting to adapt to the metric system used by the 240sx.

Autometer recommends you buy one of their NPT to BSPT fittings which
costs somewhere around $20 or $30. However you can go to AdaptAll
in Toronto (http://www.adaptall.com/) and get your fittings from there.

If you plan to keep your stock oil pressure indicator light (on your dash)
here’s what you need to buy:

1 - 3-way 1/8" Female BSPT fitting
1 - 1/8" Male to 1/8" Male BSPT fitting
1 - 1/8" Male BSPT to 1/8" Female NPT fitting

Total cost for these fittings is about $10.

Tools/parts needed:

  • 22mm deep socket
  • Ratchet
  • Approriate sized wrenches/ratchets to tighten the various fittings
  • Teflon tape
  • Autometer gauge, fittings and nylon tubing.

The stock oil pressure switch is located near the oil filter. It’s a very tight
fit so the best thing is to unbolt it from under the car. The size of the switch
is 22mm, so you will need a 22mm deep socket to remove it.

For my setup, I ended up putting the Autometer adapter in the middle of the T-fitting
and the stock switch on the other end (see pics).

Be sure to put some teflon tape on the threads before you tighten the
fittings. I had no teflon tape so I ended up using RTV sealent. :oops:

Stock oil pressure switch
http://240sx.cubicdesign.com/images/2004/oilpressure/pic1.jpg

The fittings
http://240sx.cubicdesign.com/images/2004/oilpressure/pic2.jpg

Fittings installed (minus the nylon oil pressure tube)
http://240sx.cubicdesign.com/images/2004/oilpressure/pic3.jpg

Gauge (the switch if for my electric fan)
http://240sx.cubicdesign.com/images/2004/oilpressure/pic4.jpg

Once everything is installed, check the fittings and connections for leaks.
Let the car idle, take it for a spin and monitor the reading. If you lost
some oil while taking the oil pressure switch out, be sure to top it off.
If it’s any easier, take the oil filter out when doing this install.

On idle, on average, you will see about 20psi. Higher up in the
RPM/speed/gear, your average PSI will be between 60psi and 70psi.

Good luck.

2

Does that mean there is hot oil sitting underneath your headunit?

3

Yes, but it will be insulated shortly using some looms (or something).

Chances of these nylon tubes breaking/bursting is pretty rare.

You can always buy an electrical oil pressure gauge. :dunno:

4

Im not worried about the lines busting but more or less the fittings leaking.

5

An alternative (and a costly alternative) is to get some Earl/Russell
pressure fittings and SS lines. But my pockets weren’t that deep. :frowning:

6

If I were to choose that route I would then go Electric.

Awesome Write-up BTW.

I will be investing in an Oil Pressure Gauge Shortly as IMO it’s
one of the best monitoring tools on a stock/lightly modified engine.

7

Oil pressure is nice to have if you think your engine will pop, but usually by the time theres a problem with your oil pressure something is already wrong, maybe even permanently?

Also dude watch out, some racing sactions will not allow you to compete with oil passing through the firewall… im not sure if its SOLO2 but im pretty sure SOLO1 wont let you…

8

So these racing bodies expect you to have electric gauges instead?
Or the gauges mounted on the hood? Interesting.

Hrm, I wasn’t aware of SOLO1 and its regulations on the mech. oil
pressure gauge. Thx for the heads up.

9

It has come to my attention that under rough idle or hard driving, with
the motor shaking, the t-fittings have been known to snap off the adapters
that go into the block. I don’t know how common it is, but it is a possibility.

Here’s something to consider if you want to take the extra precautions.

Rather then having a t-fitting directly on the block, put a line of tubing
between the block and t-fitting. As well consider copper tubing instead of nylon.

http://www.theoldone.com/articles/oilpressure/2PreferredOilPressureTap.jpg

10

best thing i have found for installing oil gauges is an oil sandwhich plate.
they run for about 75 bucks in stores. or like 45 shipped on ebay.

they usually have 2 or 3 holes, so you can run an oil cooler and a gauge, or 2 gauges and an oil feed for turbo etc etc…

may be a bit more expensive, but definately worth it with ease of install etc.

Bryan