where is the best place to put your oil pressure sending unit for you gauge. I use an auto meter mech. gauge and is currently tied into the front where the factory sending unit was. is it better to have it to the back. it would take some modification to do it, but will it be more accurate. what will the difference be from the front to the rear?
Hey Brian, I just installed my guages a couple days ago, and I used the stock place for the sending unit. Works great! I would assume that if the factory unit was in the front, then it should stay there?o No: Good question though....is pressure different in different parts of the block? doesn't seem logical, from a hydrodynamic pount of view....unless the front and back of the block were 50 feet apart:grin:
Bryan, Pressure difference from front to rear of the Buick block can be anywhere from 5-15 psi, depending in large part on your bearing clearances and how much oil pressure is bled off. In order to take the reading off the back of the block you have to drill into the rear oil galley. So it is best to do this at rebuild time. If you have 65-70 at the front of the block, at high RPM's, you should be fine. According to Buicks "Service Recommendations for Heavy Duty Usage", you need 53 psi at the back of the block for 5500 RPM. This is from the Guide to Buick GS, by Steven Dove pg. 64
that make me concerned because if it only holds 17psi at idle, what is going on in the back. at 2500 its is 54psi at 5200 its is 72psi o No:
Bryan, Nothing wrong with that oil pressure. Pretty typical really. Do you hear any bearing noise? lifters tapping? If not you have sufficient pressure. I really think people get overly concerned about their oil pressure. You need 11-12 psi/1000 RPM at the front of the motor on a BBB. Looks to me like you have it and then some. I have very similar pressure readings and I regularly wail on my motor. It's still nice and quiet, and if you breathe on the gas, the pressure goes right up.
Larry, just one correction....you don't have to drill into the lifter galley, you just have to remove the galley plug and screw in a 90 degree fitting. Of course, you do have to drill a hole or cut a notch through the top of the block webbing (the part of the block where the trans bolts to it). I've been running my gauge from back there for years because it's a more accurate reading. Later, Doug.
Thanks Doug, That is good to know. I was looking at the directions on www.buickperformance.com They specify drilling into the galley ahead of the plug. I like your way better. I took another look at the article and they added to it with the angled brass fitting method. Much better. Bryan, you'll have to unbolt the transmission, and the flywheel to get to the galley plug. then drill a hole throgh the webbing, and run the 90* brass fitting and copper or braided line. I still think your oil pressures are fine.
larry, i am not too concerned with the oil pressure at idle anymore since a lot of people only run that at idle. i don't have any bearing noise but i do have lifter ticking when the motor is hot at idle, but that is because of the crower cam saver lifter. they have a bigger orfice hole, plus i only run 10w30. if i went to a heavier oil it would correct it. thanks for the imput
