Difference in oil pressure
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,959
Likes: 2
From: Florida
Guess I'll answer my own question. It looks like the gauge is in the cam chest, and the sender is in the crank case. So I'm guessing the cam chest would have less pressure than the crank case, which is why I had 0 on the gauge at idle and 5 on the gauge. That's what I figure.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
In addition I wouldn't regard either gauge as being very accurate. The only way of answering your question is if you could measure at both positions using the same gauge, to remove any discrepancy between the two.
My favourite indy calls oil gauges 'worry' gauges! He reckons they should be chucked in the bin, they cause him so much grief - from customers who fit them.
My favourite indy calls oil gauges 'worry' gauges! He reckons they should be chucked in the bin, they cause him so much grief - from customers who fit them.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,705
Likes: 22,718
From: Farmington ,MS
From everything I have read, the stock oil pump cuts off oil to the crank at idle...sending whats left to the valvetrain....hydraulic lifters really don't like 0 oil pressure...while the roller bearings on the crank really don't care. I have a gauge in the same position as yours,and it has read 0 oil pressure at idle for 15 years with no problems.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 957
Likes: 2
From: Carlsbad Springs Ontario
oil pres.
From everything I have read, the stock oil pump cuts off oil to the crank at idle...sending whats left to the valvetrain....hydraulic lifters really don't like 0 oil pressure...while the roller bearings on the crank really don't care. I have a gauge in the same position as yours,and it has read 0 oil pressure at idle for 15 years with no problems.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Our engines have mostly roller type bearings and don't need much pressure to lubricate them, unlike an auto engine with almost entirely plain bearings. Low pressure readings are indeed normal. Read my earlier post!
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,468
Likes: 12
From: Bluffton, South Carolina
Two things; first the stock HD V-Twin oil pump doesn't put out a lot of pressure, 7-10 lbs per thousand RPM's is normal except at idle where it MAY run a little lower. Secondly oil guages are notoriously inaccurate. If you take a certified pressure gauge and check it against yours you will probably find a difference. If you really had zero oil pressure your engine would let you know right away. So in closing you can do two things, first look at the gauges when you are going down the road only. Secondly take off the guages and rely on you light. Make sure your idle is around 900-1,000 RPM's, many people have it set lower so it sounds cool, but it isn't cool for the engine. Hope this helps.
John
John
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