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Engine Oil Pressure Sensor Fitment

  • Thread starter Thread starter 90NATO
  • Start date Start date Oct 21, 2020
9

90NATO

Member
Nov 20, 2018
20
6
13
Augusta, GA
Oct 21, 2020
#1
  • Oct 21, 2020
  • #1
Hey all!

My oil pressure sensor went out on my 90 Fox coupe and I ordered a new motorcraft one online for a 1990. What came in the mail is a different one than I currently have on there. I got the SW-2178-A, which after researching says it fits the 1990's with the "light". My questions is: will it still give a pressure reading to my gauge? They don't seem too complicated and the sensors apply across multiple years, so I was thinking of giving it a shot unless any of you say it won't work.

Thanks!
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 25, 2016
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#2
  • Oct 21, 2020
  • #2
If it is for a light than no it will not work.
Now lets get some terminology straight, is this for the oil pressure gauge? Then it is a sender and installs on an extension on the drivers side front of block by the timing cover, there is a oil level sensor, that one goes in the side of the oil pan and triggers a light.
 
9

90NATO

Member
Nov 20, 2018
20
6
13
Augusta, GA
Oct 21, 2020
#3
  • Oct 21, 2020
  • #3
General karthief said:
If it is for a light than no it will not work.
Now lets get some terminology straight, is this for the oil pressure gauge? Then it is a sender and installs on an extension on the drivers side front of block by the timing cover, there is a oil level sensor, that one goes in the side of the oil pan and triggers a light.
Click to expand...
Exactly, it’s for the gauge, so its the sender (on the extender above the oil filter). Sorry for the confusion. The “light” part threw me off. Other than that the threads are the same and the pole for single wire on the sender is the same as well.
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 25, 2016
27,892
10,551
203
polk county florida
Oct 21, 2020
#4
  • Oct 21, 2020
  • #4
The oil pressure sender for the light looks just like a sender for the gauge, one wire and all, make sure you have a sender for a gauge.
 
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9

90NATO

Member
Nov 20, 2018
20
6
13
Augusta, GA
Oct 21, 2020
#5
  • Oct 21, 2020
  • #5
General karthief said:
The oil pressure sender for the light looks just like a sender for the gauge, one wire and all, make sure you have a sender for a gauge.
Click to expand...
Gotcha, I’ll just return it then and make sure the new one is for the gauge. Shoulda paid more attention. Doh! Anyway, thanks for the help and explanation!
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,233
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Massachusetts
Oct 21, 2020
#6
  • Oct 21, 2020
  • #6
Does the one you currently have look like the SW-1547-B sender ( E4ZZ-9278-B) ?

That’s the sender for 79-89 cars. In 1990 they changed to the SW-2178 sender

both are 1-wire and work for the guage in the dash. If your car is a 1990+ you’ll want thr 2178
 
Reactions: jrichker and General karthief
9

90NATO

Member
Nov 20, 2018
20
6
13
Augusta, GA
Oct 21, 2020
#7
  • Oct 21, 2020
  • #7
Mustang5L5 said:
Does the one you currently have look like the SW-1547-B sender ( E4ZZ-9278-B) ?

That’s the sender for 79-89 cars. In 1990 they changed to the SW-2178 sender

both are 1-wire and work for the guage in the dash. If your car is a 1990+ you’ll want thr 2178
Click to expand...
So the one currently in the car (that I’m looking to replace) looks like the 1547-B, the one I ordered and currently have ready to install is the 2178. It throws me off because the threads and one-wire pole seem compatible, buts its smaller. Perhaps it was replaced once before with the incorrect 1547-B and thats why it always read low and ultimately failed? IDK.
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 25, 2016
27,892
10,551
203
polk county florida
Oct 21, 2020
#8
  • Oct 21, 2020
  • #8
Mustang5L5 said:
Does the one you currently have look like the SW-1547-B sender ( E4ZZ-9278-B) ?

That’s the sender for 79-89 cars. In 1990 they changed to the SW-2178 sender

both are 1-wire and work for the guage in the dash. If your car is a 1990+ you’ll want thr 2178
Click to expand...
So they changed the resistance? Likely do to the addition of the air bag light into the wiring?
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,233
17,919
224
Massachusetts
Oct 21, 2020
#9
  • Oct 21, 2020
  • #9
No. I believe the smaller one was more of an idiot light. Anything over 5psi just puts the guage in the middle of the range, while the 79-89 version actually swept. I believe you can use either.
 
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