Oil pressure kill switch?

[jfnall]

My oil sending unit reads with the dash gauge at the bottom. I have a mechanical gauge added to read pressure that works fine. But what I'm wonder, an 85 fj60, is there an oil light that comes on if pressure drops and does it kill the engine if it drops? Or is it simply light that comes on? Or is it simply a gauge that has a H and L position? If it doesn't kill the motor, can an oil pressure kill switch be added?

 

[ntsqd]

Can be added. Depending on the pressure switch chosen it could be simple and it could be complex to do so. I think that I'd start by looking at the pressure switches used by GM TBI's to signal when to turn on or off the fuel pump.

 

[lovetoski]

The OEM gauge reads H/L, or whatever. No light, no kill switch. Keep the oil filled up, don't run it if it gets too low. That's the extent of the safety system. An aftermarket oil pressure gauge is a good idea. I am pretty sure you can purchase ones with an alarm.

As long as you've replaced the weep hole plug, I don't see any burning reason why you need an oil pressure kill switch. Check your pressure gauge once in a while, good to go.

 

[TobyB]

On cars that I need to not blow up, a switch and a bright light do the deal just fine.

What value switch is tricky, because while you don't want it to come on at idle, you also
don't want to be cruising along with 10 psi.

VW in the 90's had a tricky speed- sensitive setup with a pair of switches- high pressure for hgher revs,
lower for idle.

t

 

[jfnall]

On cars that I need to not blow up

Didn't know there was another kind......

Sound like this setup could get complicated really fast. I should mount the gauge on top the dash directly over the speedo

 

[Dynosoar]

early to mid 90's chevy had a oil pres cut off switch set at 4 psi. (TPI camaro see LINK)

Dyno

 

[cullmancruiser]

You could use a Murphy switch. They're commonly used on industrial equipment and engines that need to run unattended. They will kill the engine if the oil pressure drops below a point that you can adjust. They use a bypass switch that you have to manually hold in to start and run the engine until oil pressure builds. It could double as an anti-theft device if you hide the bypass switch button.

http://www.fwmurphy.com/

 

[Joe_E]

You could use a Murphy switch. They're commonly used on industrial equipment and engines that need to run unattended. They will kill the engine if the oil pressure drops below a point that you can adjust. They use a bypass switch that you have to manually hold in to start and run the engine until oil pressure builds. It could double as an anti-theft device if you hide the bypass switch button.

http://www.fwmurphy.com/

That's a great idea.
Sounds a little complicated first thing in the morning though. lol

We use a couple pumps at work that have Murphy switches.

 

[ntsqd]

I *think* it was MSD who made a rpm sensitive device. If you didn't have 10 psi per 1000 rpm the light would come on. Only problem with that is the 10 psi per 1000 is an SBC rule of thumb. Other engines behave differently. If they did and do still make it you could probably set it up to turn off the engine instead of turning a light on.

I'm good with just a low oil pressure light. Don't need more complexity than that.

 

[jfnall]

Yeah a super bright LED could be a real attention getter.