Proper oil pressure gauge

[Traveler74]

According to the Haynes Repair Manual, the 1996 V-6 3.4 liter engine should have, at minimum, an oil pressure of 4.3 psi at idle. Problem: the oil pressure gauges I'm seeing at various web sites show gauges which register 0-140 psi. (It would be very hard to tell the difference between 2 psi and 6 psi)
Obviously, those gauges would barely register 4.3 psi. Do I need something special to accurately measure my oil pressure ? Are there gauges which measure very low pressure measurements ?

 

[Devbot]

2 words: digital gauge.
There are plenty of aftermarket gauges that will tell you the reading real time with an old seven segment display. It's the easiest way to tell since the pressure is directly related to your RPMs and puts the gauge all over the place at time.
Edit: Tons of styles here, personally where I was gonna get my volt/trans temp/oil temp.

 

[96RedRunner]

Your getting into Special Tool area connecting at sender port, has to be a fluid guage or let's say the good one's are, check auto tool supply company's.
Or find a friend, not sure Auto parts stores have them to loan.

 

[96RedRunner]

Might be what your looking for, link is cheap might or might not work out of the box. Auto Oil Pump Pressure Test Gauge Car Truck Automotive.

 

[Traveler74]

Might be what your looking for, link is cheap might or might not work out of the box. Auto Oil Pump Pressure Test Gauge Car Truck Automotive.

There are plenty of oil pressure gauges that have a dial, for very low cost, but I think that they would have a hard time showing the very low pressures (at idle) for T4R's. According to Haynes manual the idle pressure should be aprox 4.3 psi.

I did find a few digital gauges for a permanent dashboard mount, but they cost BIG money. $600 plus

I looked at Napa, Auto Zone, O'Rielly auto parts, Amazon etc

 

[19963.4lsr5]

My innova oil pressure gauge reads just fine. I bought the copper line kit to go with it.


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[Kanoe]

There are plenty of oil pressure gauges that have a dial, for very low cost, but I think that they would have a hard time showing the very low pressures (at idle) for T4R's. According to Haynes manual the idle pressure should be aprox 4.3 psi.

Your 4Runner should have much higher than that. 4.3 is the death limit and it’s very low. The 3 Toyota’s I have checked have all been 10 to 15 at idle which the cheap harbour freight gauge has no trouble with.

Man, you are overthinking this to death. Buy a cheap gauge and see if you even have a problem. Then you can decide where to go with it.

 

[Traveler74]

Your 4Runner should have much higher than that. 4.3 is the death limit and it’s very low. The 3 Toyota’s I have checked have all been 10 to 15 at idle which the cheap harbour freight gauge has no trouble with.

Man, you are overthinking this to death. Buy a cheap gauge and see if you even have a problem. Then you can decide where to go with it.

Thank you, Kanoe. On other threads, I've read that Haynes is good only for a paperweight. I guess they are right. Ha Ha.

You are correct. I do have a tendency to over think areas where I lack knowledge. I have already ordered a new oil pressure sensor and we'll see what that does and go from there.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Thank you, Kanoe. On other threads, I've read that Haynes is good only for a paperweight. I guess they are right. Ha Ha.

You are correct. I do have a tendency to over think areas where I lack knowledge. I have already ordered a new oil pressure sensor and we'll see what that does and go from there.

Are you now idling at 750rpm in park and neutral after the Alt swap?


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[19963.4lsr5]

Your 4Runner should have much higher than that. 4.3 is the death limit and it’s very low. The 3 Toyota’s I have checked have all been 10 to 15 at idle which the cheap harbour freight gauge has no trouble with.

Man, you are overthinking this to death. Buy a cheap gauge and see if you even have a problem. Then you can decide where to go with it.

Are those three toyotas engines 3.4l’s? You are the first person to say you have more than 10psi at idle with hot oil. The idiot light comes on at 2psi


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[Kanoe]

Are those three toyotas engines 3.4l’s? You are the first person to say you have more than 10psi at idle with hot oil. The idiot light comes on at 2psi


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Nope. 3rz, 7afe, 1nz. It’s 4-5 psi for the light isn’t it? I’ve got the 3rz never played with the v6. I believe the 5vz, 3rz, and 1nz share the same sensor, but I could be wrong on that.

Edit: according to rock auto it looks like all the engines mentioned use the same sensor. The acdelco ace1805a listed you fit gives an opening pressure of 6 psi.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Nope. 3rz, 7afe, 1nz. It’s 4-5 psi for the light isn’t it? I’ve got the 3rz never played with the v6. I believe the 5vz, 3rz, and 1nz share the same sensor, but I could be wrong on that.

Edit: according to rock auto it looks like all the engines mentioned use the same sensor. The acdelco ace1805a listed you fit gives an opening pressure of 6 psi.

My rebuilt 3.4 makes 8psi and I have the most of anyone with a 3.4 that responded to my oil pressure question.


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[Traveler74]

Are you now idling at 750rpm in park and neutral after the Alt swap ?

Replacement alternator not yet installed due to the case around the pivot bolt being too large. I am in the process of filing down the case around the pivot bolt area. Case is perhaps 1mm too large. It's now 4 am and I'll know if it now fits, later today.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

The metal tube that squeezes against the Alt frame is movable. Just find something to pry or push it back towards the Rad.


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[Bad Luck]

Replacement alternator not yet installed due to the case around the pivot bolt being too large. I am in the process of filing down the case around the pivot bolt area. Case is perhaps 1mm too large. It's now 4 am and I'll know if it now fits, later today.

Like 19963.4lsr5 said above, there is a slide on that pivot mounting point you are talking about that needs to be pried or hammered back to allow the alternator to squeeze in. It gets tightened back up when you tighten the bolt.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

This is what I used in the past to push that sleeve back to allow the Alt to slide in.


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[Traveler74]

Like 19963.4lsr5 said above, there is a slide on that pivot mounting point you are talking about that needs to be pried or hammered back to allow the alternator to squeeze in. It gets tightened back up when you tighten the bolt.

Yes, I can feel that slide. Unfortunately, it is absolutely frozen in place. No worries, however. I filed down the case at the pivot bolt point and it slipped right in. Battery is now being recharged and I'll know more later after I start the truck.

 

[Bad Luck]

Yes, I can feel that slide. Unfortunately, it is absolutely frozen in place. No worries, however. I filed down the case at the pivot bolt point and it slipped right in. Battery is now being recharged and I'll know more later after I start the truck.

That slide should slide to properly align and clamp on the alternator. Hopefully tightening that bolt allowed the slide to clamp in enough.