oil pressure

[alfazagato]

I have just changed the oil pressure sender on my 4200 Spyder. The previous sender worked beautifully until it suddenly showed no pressure at all, but whilst it did work the pressure on start-up was 5 bar and hot tick-over 2.5, the needle jumped immediately you touched the accelerator back to 5 bar. Now with the new sender startup is 5 bar hot tick-over is 2.3 bar and the pressure at 2000 rev or over is back to 5 bar. In other words the take-up is much slower. What happens in other cars? Is this just the difference between two senders?

 

[CatmanV2]

Mine is not instant, more like your current one

C

 

[conaero]

They all vary all over the place, dont worry about it, it may be your guage.

 

[EnzoMC]

I have just changed the oil pressure sender on my 4200 Spyder. The previous sender worked beautifully until it suddenly showed no pressure at all, but whilst it did work the pressure on start-up was 5 bar and hot tick-over 2.5, the needle jumped immediately you touched the accelerator back to 5 bar. Now with the new sender startup is 5 bar hot tick-over is 2.3 bar and the pressure at 2000 rev or over is back to 5 bar. In other words the take-up is much slower. What happens in other cars? Is this just the difference between two senders?

mine hits 5 bar as soon as i touch the pedal, was it easy to change the sender ?

 

[allandwf]

The senders are terrible. They have Jaeger internals, and the plug contacts are a push fit against metal flat spring contacts that should make when it is all pushed/crimped together, needless to say they wear, are subject to heat and vibration, and hey presto! intermittant readings. For the sake of a spot of solder you could make them reliable, but it's getting into them and then sealing them again. My old one was instant but erratic, the new one is ok but much more sluggish. I have tried to source them from an alternative but so far have failed.

 

[jluis]

Is the pressure sender on the 4200 the same as the 3200?

 

[conaero]

Is the pressure sender on the 4200 the same as the 3200?

No they are different.

 

[allandwf]

But probably work on the same principle?

 

[jluis]

But probably work on the same principle?

The principle of Unreliability?

 

[Contigo]

They work when they want to work and are best ignored!

 

[StuartW]

They work when they want to work and are best ignored!

But if it is working and trying to tell you something, then ignore it at your peril - I'm talking from 3200 experience - damned if you do, damned if you don't!

 

[alfazagato]

Thanks for all the observations.....I still have pressure and it appears to be good but sluggish.....so I won't worry too much, just keep an eye on what's happening. The replacement of the sender was done by Autofficina who were very, very accommodating and good. The knack appears to be to cover the engine with thick foam rubber so that you can bodily get onto the plenum and work "over the edge" to get at the sender.
If it is any consolation I have to replace senders in my Alfa 2000 Spider every few years too. They are Jaeger too I believe.

 

[jluis]

But if it is working and trying to tell you something, then ignore it at your peril - I'm talking from 3200 experience - damned if you do, damned if you don't!

Did you get any warning on yours?
Maybe a dropping of oil pressure?

 

[BennyD]

Generally, a seized engine gives the game away!

 

[alfatwo]

Andrew, You really need to fit a gauge to the engine mate and see the true oil pressure reading...

What I mean is... a simple fexi pipe screwed into the block with a proper wet oil gauge on the end,this cuts out any electrical anomalies

If this then reads the same as your original Spider gauge your in trouble...if not, just put it down to good old Fiat!

Dave

 

[StuartW]

Did you get any warning on yours?
Maybe a dropping of oil pressure?

A drop in oil pressure and a substantial increase in oil consumption - it didn't get as far as a seized engine though!