Veglia Oil Press Gauge

[jandarah]

Hi,
I am in the process of connecting a Veglia Borletti oil pressure gauge to my 1756cc Spider. I do not have a genuine sensor and any that are on eBay are asking ridiculous prices for such a simple unit. Veglia gauges and sensors work back-to-front to similar oil pressure gauges, in that maximum resistance from the sensor is zero oil pressure and minimum resistance from the sensor is maximum oil pressure. It is very hard to find sensors from Asia that work this way, however I did locate one on eBay from Taiwan. It does work, but I am of the opinion that the resistance range of the sensor does not accurately match the range of the Veglia gauge.

Two questions, please.

1. At 60mph in 5th gear (around 3,500rpm), what should be an average oil pressure of the 1756 motor?

2. If someone out there knows, what is the resistance range of a Veglia sensor or one that works accurately enough with the Veglia gauge?

Many thanks, as always,

[bradartigue]

I can't answer your questions exactly but caution you not to look for accuracy. The gauges and senders were inaccurate from the start, and most don't register pressure once the motor is warmed up unless you are at high RPMs.

[jandarah]

Thanks Brad, I guess I wasn't expecting accuracy just a decent reading. Interesting that nothing can be shown when they warm up, not sure why that would be. I guess the heating up of the sensor being next to the engine would/could change the resistance within the sensor. Something for this old techo to ponder on. If that is the cause, ten insulating the sensor could do the trick.

Cheers

[DieselSpider]

It may be easier and more accurate to just get a Sun brand gauge of the same size, insert its working into the Veglia and use the Sun pressure sender.

[jandarah]

Yes, you are probably right, but I just wanted to keep the Veglia gauge look.

[bradartigue]

I should have answered.

50 - 70 psi at temperature.

I've never had one read these pressures. My 1970 would read idling, 10-20 running, maybe 30 accelerating. I had an 82 with a Veglia gauge we installed and it would stay between 30 and 35 no matter what (unless it was off). I honestly think FIAT deleted them because people complained about the pressure reading near zero when the engine was warm. From what I've been told the sender is the issue, the hole was never large enough to get in enough oil at pressure to read.

[jandarah]

Thanks again, Brad.

I might have a fiddle with the Taiwanese sender that I have. The hole is very small, as is another one that I have that sends the wrong way for the Veglia. As an old radio tech of over 30 years and an active radio amateur, I know that temperature can affect the value of electronic components. While these senders are some form of variable resistor (like a volume control), they are, no doubt made to a price and the best materials would not have been used. It is more of an aesthetic thing for me. I have re-designed the centre dashboard to take a volt meter, the oil press meter and the three red idiot lights and the wiper and headlight switch.

Something to play with and the senders are easy to get to and on the "cold side" of the block.

Cheers,

[fiatfactory]

.

[jandarah]

Thanks Steve, once again. The Taiwanese one was about 10 buckd Aus money, I think. Oh well, we shall soldier on.