Installed AutoMeter Phantoms, have questions about what I should be seeing.

[astronut1885]

Hey guys. I just installed a set of Autometer Phantoms in my car. I threw in an electrical oil temp, and a mechanical oil pressure and water temp. My stock gauges suck, so I want to know what is a "good" range on these gauges. When cruising and warmed up, I see 188-195* water temp, 140-150* oil temp, and 50-55 psi oil pressure. At idle, I see all the same, except 30 psi oil pressure. Is that a good set of numbers? What should I see for water temp, oil pressure, and oil temp normally? Thanks

 

[lxsteed]

Thats about what I see for pressure, and water temp. What thermostat do you have installed?

 

[astronut1885]

190*, but I am going to get a 180 soon.

 

[r6bullet]

Looks like your water temp is right on with the thermostat that you are using, and everything else looks good also. Do you have any pics of the Install?

 

[astronut1885]

look at the link in my sig

 

[astronut1885]

I got the fuel pressure in and on the cowl. I don't really like it there, but I'll get used to it. I just need to be able to see what it's doing. It's showing me 36psi at idle, jumping to 40 when I hit the throttle. I think we had set it to 41psi vacuum off, so with vac on the AFPR, it'll lower it, so I imagine the 36psi is about where I want it to be. If it's nice tomorrow and I have time I'll pull the vac line and check it vac off. I did it in the rain, which sucks, and I had some small leak problems that I took care of. This is one thing that scares me, because on one end of the hose I have the fuel rail right over the header, and on the other, it's the gauge on the cowl right infront of me. One mistake and a spark, and something's going to cook. I let it run for a good 5 minutes, continually checking the pressure and the line, and nothing leaked and the pressure stayed constant, which to me indicates a good seal. I tried using pipe sealant, but the gas melted it, so I just cranked the fittings down good and snug, and I'm hoping it'll stay good.

 

[HISSIN50]

how do you run the oil cooler than the coolant? am i the only one who thinks it should be the other way around (i think we run the oil at 200-250* on a hot motor (say 200* water temp). hence the reason why some run coolers - 250 is kinda the outer limit you want on dino oil.

nice job on the install. where did you install the sender for oil temp?

 

[astronut1885]

The sender for the oil temp is on the little tube where the oil pressure hookup is. I put in a T fitting and installed both there. It was supposed to go in the pan, but I figured that so long as it is in the oil, it should show me the temp. I'm not sure what the oil temp should be, but it did seem low to me. When the car is warmed up, and it's just sitting, the oil temp reads about 150, but as soon as I start driving, it goes down to like 125-130. I'm not beating on it, I was keeping it below 3 grand most of the time.

 

[HISSIN50]

The sender for the oil temp is on the little tube where the oil pressure hookup is. I put in a T fitting and installed both there. It was supposed to go in the pan, but I figured that so long as it is in the oil, it should show me the temp. I'm not sure what the oil temp should be, but it did seem low to me. When the car is warmed up, and it's just sitting, the oil temp reads about 150, but as soon as I start driving, it goes down to like 125-130. I'm not beating on it, I was keeping it below 3 grand most of the time.

ok, i think that method is a little flawed. like a coolant sender, your oil temp sender should be in the flow of oil. with it at the sender for pressure is, it does not see flow (the oil goes there, but has no return). so the temp increase you see is through radiant heating, rather than a real time temp.

i have wondered if the low oil sending unit is low enough to show accurate temps for an oil temp gauge.

anyhow, i think im on the right track (same reason we dont use a tee fitting on the stock water temp sender location for an additional gauge).

my two cents worth. good luck.

 

[astronut1885]

Yeah, you're right. I'm gonna find a way to move it to the pan this weekend. I think one of the bung fittings I have will fit the front drain hole.