Oil: Level/temperature/pressure

[soundguy 13]

Having problems with the oil temp gauge on the dash - it doesn't work. The oil level gauge does and sometimes flickers. Is the oil level pressure indicated as a warning light?

 

The oil temp gauge sensor on this pic:

 

 

 

 

(in yellow) - what relationship does it have with the oil pressure gauge sender (purple)?

 

Which is the more likely culprit for the non working oil temp gauge, and the rough cost?

 

 

Additionally, if I remove and clean the oil temp gauge sensor will I lose a bit of oil in the process as it's unscrewed? Just want to be aware of what's going to happen when I take it out.

 

My ECU temp sensor is on the back of the block near the distributor, with a blue connector - what are the other two sensors in the same location?

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

The engine pictured is a GTI6 engine. If you have the standard 8v XU engine the senders are in different positions.

[GLPoomobile 958]

Firstly, oil temp hardly moves at all unless you are driving at prolonged high revs or really thrashing it. So under "normal" driving, you should see very low temps.

 

The oil temp sensor is located on the back of the sump. Yes you will lose some oil if you remove if - think about this logically, the sensor needs to be submerged in the oil to take a reading, so it stands to reason that oil is going to exit the hole once you remove the sensor

 

It's quite common for the wire to the sensor to break off, or for there to be a bad connection in the brown plug above the gearbox. If you take the wire off the end of the sensor and touch it to a ground, the guage will shoot to max if everything is OK.

 

Your oil pressure flickering sounds like a bad connection. This also runs through the brown plug above the gearbox. Given that you have problems with both readings, it could be that the brown plug is the culprit. Again, if you remove the wire from the sensor and ground it, the gauge will go to make if everything is OK. If it doesn't, it indicates a bad connection somewhere upwind of the end of the wire.

[soundguy 13]

The engine pictured is a GTI6 engine. If you have the standard 8v XU engine the senders are in different positions.

 

Ahhh...the penny drops. Thought it was an XU with an oil mod or something. Thanks for putting me right, explains a few things.

[soundguy 13]

Firstly, oil temp hardly moves at all unless you are driving at prolonged high revs or really thrashing it. So under "normal" driving, you should see very low temps.

 

The oil temp sensor is located on the back of the sump. Yes you will lose some oil if you remove if - think about this logically, the sensor needs to be submerged in the oil to take a reading, so it stands to reason that oil is going to exit the hole once you remove the sensor

 

It's quite common for the wire to the sensor to break off, or for there to be a bad connection in the brown plug above the gearbox. If you take the wire off the end of the sensor and touch it to a ground, the guage will shoot to max if everything is OK.

 

Your oil pressure flickering sounds like a bad connection. This also runs through the brown plug above the gearbox. Given that you have problems with both readings, it could be that the brown plug is the culprit. Again, if you remove the wire from the sensor and ground it, the gauge will go to make if everything is OK. If it doesn't, it indicates a bad connection somewhere upwind of the end of the wire.

 

Thanks for the advice re: oil temps and high revs etc. Haven't really done prolonged high revs since an engine transplant as there have been quite a few issues to resolve.

 

Will take a look at the brown plug before doing the grounding test on the two sensors.

[GLPoomobile 958]

If I was you i'd leave the brown plug well alone unless you need to. So ground the wires first of all, and if the guages don't move then start tracing your problem back up the wires.

 

The brown plug becomes a delicate nightmare due to moisture ingress causing the terminals to gunge up with limescale and corrosion. And the wires go brittle either side. If you dare look at it, let alone touch it, it's asking for trouble. Quite often it's less hassle in the long run to just chop it and any damaged wire out, and either join the wires directly or substitute it with a better (sealed) plug.

Edited September 29, 2011 by GLPoomobile

[soundguy 13]

If I was you i'd leave the brown plug well alone unless you need to. So ground the wires first of all, and if the guages don't move then start tracing your problem back up the wires.

 

The brown plug becomes a delicate nightmare due to moisture ingress causing the terminals to gunge up with limescale and corrosion. And the wires go brittle either side. If you dare look at it, let alone touch it, it's asking for trouble. Quite often it's less hassle in the long run to just chop it and any damaged wire out, and either join the wires directly or substitute it with a better (sealed) plug.

 

Good advice, ta. I'm okay with a soldering iron so no problem if I have to tackle it, but as you say, no point in inviting trouble.