Oil pressure gauge and sending unit

[Vaardawg]

Greetings,

I am a newby to the landcruiser fraternity and have been reading with interest and some amusement the voluminous information about lancruisers on the internet, but nonetheless, please forgive my virginal knowledge of all-things-landcruiser...to the question...

I have owned a 1986 hj60 (6-cyl, diesel, automatic, 311,000 km) for 2 years and love the truck. Recently, the oil pressure gauge stopped deflecting. My mechanic took the lead off the sending unit and touched it to ground which caused the gauge to deflect. He concluded the problem is with the sending unit. I changed the unit, but unfortunately made the mistake of installing a look-alike 12-volt unit, which immmediately melted my gauge (very sad) when I started the truck. I replaced it with a new Toyota gauge for ($111.24 cdn!!! ouch). I reconnected the black and yellow lead wire to the sending unit and it is now deflecting %100 when the ignition is on but the motor is not running (which it shouldn't do as I understand it is a variable resistance unit...means the wire grounded I presume). I am now thinking the problem is not the sending unit? Any clues as to how to solve my problem? I don't want to stray too far from home without the pressure reading even though the engine is running great, as usual.

 

[bigbrowndog]

I had problems with mine,at the same time I had a faulty pressure spring in the oil pump. First I replaced the gauge with a mechanical version, actually bent the gauge needle on the zero post way past 100 lbs. So then I installed a new spring and piston in the pump. All is ok now.Think a good aftermarket is the way to go.cheers and welcome.

 

[crushers]

loose the factory guage, they are of poor design and go wtih an aftermarket mechanical and you might as well change out the water temp guage at the same time. this is also faulty and can peak which freaks us all out.
just my recommendation
cheers
Wayne

 

[Eric Winkworth]

they are both extreamly easy to do!!!! It is nice to see what your truck is actually doing, pyro goes in next for me~!

 

[lshobie]

Go aftermarket, toyota oil press guages are not very good.

 

[Vaardawg]

wiring problem???

I don't believe the oil pressure gauge is the problem, although I appreciate the tips regarding Toyota gauges. Yes, I could put in a manual gauge I suppose. But I think the problem is either a wiring fault, or the sending unit. Still looking for more ideas. Gracias.

 

[Chang-kuao-lo]

I concur, 'cruiser guages are notoriously crappy, new parts or no. I have been in your show, don't throw good money after bad, cheapo guages fom wally world beat the piss out of the factory ones. All three of my 'cruisers did the same thing.

 

[Chang-kuao-lo]

btw: at least put a test guage on the test port to ensure you don't, in fact, have a pressure problem.

 

[Eric Winkworth]

I just saw those gauges someone was talking about all wall mart, they look nice for being 60 bucks

 

[ivanhoe]

I don't believe the oil pressure gauge is the problem, although I appreciate the tips regarding Toyota gauges. Yes, I could put in a manual gauge I suppose. But I think the problem is either a wiring fault, or the sending unit. Still looking for more ideas. Gracias.

welcome aboard,
i'm new here also because the DTLC has disappeared. the toyota gauges has a pot which acts up from time to time. the gauges spike up with a heart throbbing feeling so to do away from that, install mechanical ones!
hth,
ivanhoe

 

[Vaardawg]

I was reading an older thread on oil pressure sending units but am left not having a definitive answer. The 24-V sending unit is bell-shaped and has two apparent places for a wire to attach, a central pin and a flat tab. In the previous discussion thread someone said the black and yellow lead should attach to the central pin, while the tab just adjacent is for a ground wire. Is this correct? The oil pressure gauge used to read consistently and vary slightly with changes in RPM, as I believe it should.

By the way, there is another lead wire with a brown flat tab that appears to never have been connected to the sending unit in recent history as it is caked with old grime (this lead wire is bundled with the black and yellow lead). The gauge was evidently working until a couple of months ago without this wire attached.

So, please tell me where the lead attaches, on the center pin or on the flat tab? (NB. Someone from the previous thread on gauges/sending units said it is important to have the ignition OFF while fiddling with the lead wire to the sending unit or it can fry the gauge in the cluster).

 

[Tapage]

In my opinion as well as the other ones here, go with mechanical unit .. I have 2, oil press and Pyro .. get to you rproper and acurate info from your engine.