Clarification - Oil Switch vs. Sending Unit
12-24-2011, 09:03 AM
#1
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Clarification - Oil Switch vs. Sending Unit
The oil pressure gauge on my 93 22re doesn't work and I'm going to fix that (also having some oil burning issues). But I would like to replace my oil sending unit to have the gauge working properly again. I've searched for the part and mostly what I come up with is every is termed "oil switch", not sending unit. Are these the same thing? I thought the switch only prevented the engine from running below a certain psi to protect it but it doesn't monitor the pressure.
Thanks!
Thanks!
12-27-2011, 02:33 AM
#2
As far as I know I have never heard of a low pressure oil pump shut off switch.
After market you could install one if you really wanted.
Are you sure it is not just a bad connection at the sending unit. Just go to your local auto parts supplier.
Tell them what they ask make, year, engine, gauge or light having a gauge they should be able to fix you up
After market you could install one if you really wanted.
Are you sure it is not just a bad connection at the sending unit. Just go to your local auto parts supplier.
Tell them what they ask make, year, engine, gauge or light having a gauge they should be able to fix you up
12-27-2011, 10:40 AM
#3
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Double check this, but:
oil switch= idiot light. Makes oil light come on when you're oil pressure is ridiculously low.
oil sending unit= sends info for an oil gauge, to let you know what your pressure is.
They are very much different and one won't work for the other. In fact I'm pretty sure an oil switch will burn out your gauge if you try to connect it to that.
Oh, and the switch does not prevent the truck from running on low pressure, only you can do that. It just flips on the oil light when the pressure gets really low. You can keep driving and destroy your engine if you feel so inclined, with the oil light on.
oil switch= idiot light. Makes oil light come on when you're oil pressure is ridiculously low.
oil sending unit= sends info for an oil gauge, to let you know what your pressure is.
They are very much different and one won't work for the other. In fact I'm pretty sure an oil switch will burn out your gauge if you try to connect it to that.
Oh, and the switch does not prevent the truck from running on low pressure, only you can do that. It just flips on the oil light when the pressure gets really low. You can keep driving and destroy your engine if you feel so inclined, with the oil light on.
Last edited by 83; 12-27-2011 at 10:43 AM.
12-28-2011, 01:14 AM
#5
Yes the thing is if you go into any parts store here and ask for a sending unit they will ask if it is for a gauge or light?/
If I ask for a oil pressure switch you get that confused and baffled look.
in essence one is a flow switch that opens once the pressure drops to I think like 3 to 5 psi
The other changes resistance as pressure changes.
It seems the Haynes manual interchanges the two terms all the time.
If I ask for a oil pressure switch you get that confused and baffled look.
in essence one is a flow switch that opens once the pressure drops to I think like 3 to 5 psi
The other changes resistance as pressure changes.
It seems the Haynes manual interchanges the two terms all the time.
12-28-2011, 06:47 AM
#6
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I meant to, but never installed the switch...I figure the gauge is enough. Swapped to a full instrument cluster and didn't hook the switch up, only the sending unit. I might still hook it up someday. Any truck that came with an oil gauge from the factory came with both.
Where in Utah are you? I went to school in Logan.
Where in Utah are you? I went to school in Logan.
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