Oil Pressure Guages shorting out??

[Mike Boehler]

This has been on my list since last summer. Both my oil pressure guages "flicker".

Crusader 454's.

Here's what I know:

Both engine oil pressure guages will run smooth at a good operating oil pressure until each decides to "flicker" or "chatter" which causes a drop in indicated oil pressure to just above danger zone (in my mind)

Both guages do this at the entire RPM Band

Both guages do this independently of each other

Both Main harnesses have been taken apart, cleaned and sprayed

Sometimes neither guage acts up.

Both guages always return to "normal" operating pressures after the flicker and needles smooth out

I think I'm going to buy 1 new oil sender and guage. Bolt the sender in and temporarily place the new guage in view and see what happens. Then do the same for the other engine.

Any ideas??

This has been knawing at me and I want to make a plan for spring.

Thanks in advance

[jawz12]

usually when you see this,it's the ground on the back of the guage that's loose...it's not shorting out...the guage reads resistance to ground,the sender is a variable resistor-kinda like a dimmer switch...
check the connections at both the sending units and the back of the guages,that should cure your problem...

[Mike Boehler]

Thanks, I will check that out. That would be too easy!

As soon as the temps get above 3!! I'll go out to the boat.

[Deep C]

Could be worse... Mine read backward... Switched the wires all around and still they read backward... It really bugs me cause they are very oil sensitive engines. High oil pressure more of an issue than low... Rupture lines, filters, etc...

[Mike Boehler]

hi or low, it sure would be nice to be reading what's really going on in there wouldn't it?

Same with your needles reading opposite! Never heard of that one.

[Fortunamate]

check your oil preasure switches if there to strong or too lite the movement of oil will make them flucuate

[34SILVERTON]

check your oil preasure switches if there to strong or too lite the movement of oil will make them flucuate

INSTALL A MANUAL GUAGE TO BE SURE