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VDO Oil pressure sender unit
11CAB - December 23rd, 2003 at 08:59 AM

Has anyone else had problems with the VDO oil pressure sender units?

The reason I ask is that I have a 2L kombi motor that is about 2years since a rebuild, & the oil pressure has been dwindling for a while now it got to the point where I'd go for a short drive and the pressure would read less than 20psi @ 3000rpm and 0psi at idle......so I replaced the oil pump in a vain attempt to save the motor.....when I started it up it was showing 14psi at idle and wouldnt increase with revs...........so I stuck a non electric guage on and found it really had 40psi at idle and went up to 60psi when you revved it...........
To say I'm pissed is an understatement.....I've run VDO gauges for years now with no probs.......now I'll never know if what the gauge says its whats really happening.........:(

Tazz - December 23rd, 2003 at 10:00 AM

A common problem with eletric senders.
You will get a little amount of Gunk i the sender from Crap oil. (All NON syn oils have gunk) You can try washing it in petrol and giving ait a little blast with Air.
Not to much... you will kill it.

Its probly a good idea to pull them off and give em i clean when you do an oil change.



Tazz

11CAB - December 23rd, 2003 at 10:04 AM

Well that is strange, I've never had any problems before, and with the oil leaks the motor has had its been getting a constant oil change........:o

Craig Torrens - December 23rd, 2003 at 03:43 PM

is the sender unit the same "range" as the guage ?

11CAB - December 23rd, 2003 at 11:55 PM

yep

Andy - December 24th, 2003 at 12:04 AM

I've only ever had the one in Andy, which seems fine, so can't help there.
To ease your mind though, you can rely on the pressure switch as a backup. They kick in ~4-6psi from memory. If things are going amiss causing low oil pressure for any reason (heat, worn bearings, bad pump, bad relief etc) the pressure switch will come on at idle.
Cheers,
Andy :thumb

bajaman64 - December 24th, 2003 at 12:40 AM

Every second day at work i sell an electric sender unit for oil pressure. They do not last forever.Nothing does.This includes the guage. Vibration, heat and as stated earlier, crap build up from mineral oil, all lead to a dud sender.
You should also check the wiring. A poor connection is all it takes. If the full signal cant get through, you cant get a proper feed to the gauge. Try mounting the sender vertically so that the oil drips back into the engine when stoped and not siting in the sender itself. This is when sludge forms.


Hope this helps Todd :jesus

You may be pissed at having replaced the oil pump, but you should also be glad that the engine is AOK. Look at the brite side. It is a learning experience and you know next time. You now have a spare pump.

Keep om truckin.... Todd