VDO oil pressure guage sender with dash idiot light

[giraffeinbath]

I haven't found a definitive answer for this online, I'd like to fit a VDO oil pressure guage, question is will that sensor will also double up for the speedometer idiot light, I assume the dash light goes off when it gets a positive reading so I assue it will?

....and if so, is it best to run a seperate cable to the guage or can I extend from the idiot light cabe to deliver the reading to the guage to minimise multiple cable runs?

 

[sparkywig]

I ran a separate multicore from the engine bay to the dash for the gauges in the old bus.
Be aware that the VDO sender operates at a different pressure than the stock/normal pressure sender, so the dash light comes on a bit more often than you'd like, especially after a motorway blast.

 

[neilswheels]

Ive got a sender on our buggy that does both, a gauge and the dash,its a two pole sender for this application. I cant get a part number if you like, should be one on it, I assume..

 

[giraffeinbath]

I ran a separate multicore from the engine bay to the dash for the gauges in the old bus.
Be aware that the VDO sender operates at a different pressure than the stock/normal pressure sender, so the dash light comes on a bit more often than you'd like, especially after a motorway blast.

I'd like to avoid that if I can, don't need worry lights flashing on the dash when they don't need to.

I had a couple of additional cables put into the replacement loom for auxiliary items so I have additional cables running from front to back already that I can use, but obviously if I was able to double up on one to serve both light and gauge that would have been a bonus.

 

[giraffeinbath]

Ive got a sender on our buggy that does both, a gauge and the dash,its a two pole sender for this application. I cant get a part number if you like, should be one on it, I assume..

If it's easily accessable yes that would be great, what brand of guage are you running?

 

[matty74]

I’ve just done this and wanted to keep the original idiot light and sender separate. So tee’d out of the case to give 2 outlets to connect into.

 

[giraffeinbath]

I’ve just done this and wanted to keep the original idiot light and sender separate. So tee’d out of the case to give 2 outlets to connect into.

I thought about doing that but wasn’t sure if the sender may give an inaccurate signal due to the sensor being on a spur and out of the main ‘flow’? Logically that shouldn’t be a thing but physics doesn’t always seem to follow logic

Does it work OK?

 

[matty74]

Yes, this was after a (cold ish) start up, the engine had been running for a bit as the temp needle is off its stop position The sender is paired with the gauge, so suspect it’s fairly accurate.

I got the t piece from demon tweeks as the male thread matches the case thread, I also used a few 10mm dowty washers to ensure I didn’t overtighten and to get outlet orientation for sender in a suitable location.

 

[neilswheels]

If it's easily accessable yes that would be great, what brand of guage are you running?

Yep, im running vdo cockpit gauges in the buggy (remember that brief 80's thing) vdo sender. I'll have a look, think Ive still got the instructions somewhere

 

[garytype2]

£20 if anyone interested View attachment 8507

 

[matty74]

£20 if anyone interested View attachment 8507

That definitely won’t work on a pressure sender

 

[naskeet]

£20 if anyone interested View attachment 8507

That gauge looks like an oil-temperature gauge calibrated in archaic Fahrenheit units favoured by Americans! Back in the mid-1990s, I used to pick up 50~150 deg.C VDO oil-temperature gauges from the local car breakers' yards for about £2~£3, salvaged from water-cooled VWs & Audis.

 

[naskeet]

Yep, im running vdo cockpit gauges in the buggy (remember that brief 80's thing) vdo sender. I'll have a look, think Ive still got the instructions somewhere

Here are the official VDO Cockpit installation instructions for oil-pressure gauges, oil-temperature gauge, cylinder-head temperature gauge & alternator-sensing tachometer.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/vdo_oil_pressure_gauge_cockpit.php

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/vdo_oil_temp_gauge_cockpit.php

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/vdo_cyl_temp_gauge_cockpit.php

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/vdo_tach_gauge_cockpit.php

Here is the link to my 1992 VDO gauges catalogue

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/lit/1992_vdo_catalog.php

 

[70-CA-Panel]

Thanks for the links and info Nigel!

 

[GazWil]

I fittered these to my bus and left the original oil light connected throung the fiited harness. Made my own harness for the cable.