viperbl Posted September 15, 2008 Share Posted September 15, 2008 We have a lot of problems with the K Series oil pressure sender failing, I was thinking as opposed to going the manual route to buy another, different sender and try that? Am I missing something as to why we need to stick with the caterham one? at worst we may need to change the gauge to work with the new sender but they sell loads of these on ebay. Edited by - viperbl on 15 Sep 2008 10:18:41 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Day Posted September 15, 2008 Share Posted September 15, 2008 There are probably a number of reasons why these senders fail : vibration & location are 2 possible reasons; & others have cited quaility. I used to have a VDO sendor & gauge. The sender continued to work satisfactorily for a few years even after it contacted some concrete at a track day. It was touching the ground for lap after lap & part of the casing got worn away. After that I resited using a remote extension. it continued in service until I replaced the gauge with an SPA one, again with the sensor mounted remotely. So if you want to continue with the CC branded gauge (made by Caerbont) you will have to scout around for a sender which produces the correct reading at the gauge. However many have moved to a mechanical gauge such as Mocal & Racetech. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viperbl Posted September 15, 2008 Author Share Posted September 15, 2008 You can get them for around 40/50 quid on ebay, I thinking its worth a punt as opposed to shelling out another 30 quid for the CC one! Does anyone know off the top of their heads the thread again on the later cars? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Ryland Posted September 15, 2008 Share Posted September 15, 2008 Good Timing. I was sat at work thinking about this, as I think mine has been on the way out for some time (erratic when it gets hot). Where is the sender located? Does anyone know the thread size? Is it 7/16ths UNF? I may have located a 12V digital possibility but will keep you posted if testing goes well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Richard Price Posted September 15, 2008 Area Representative Share Posted September 15, 2008 Does anyone know the thread size? Is it 7/16ths UNF? It depends on the age of the car, but on my 2002 car, the sender was M12x1.5. Some cars have M10, but I'm not sure of the pitch. But my new Stack mechanical gauge is much better than the standard electrical one ever was! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viperbl Posted September 15, 2008 Author Share Posted September 15, 2008 Just been having a look, the manual stack one is only 35 quid! i'd need an adaptor to change it to M12x1.5 and of course feed the pipework but at the end of the day, I suppose it has less chance of breaking ... I would like to put a proper stack sender in etc but would rather not spend the money right now, so I thinkt he manual one has to be the way forward ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart McGill Posted September 15, 2008 Share Posted September 15, 2008 I've just fitted a mechanical and a big for it. No more worrying about pressure when the oil gets hot (as was my problem)... It came from these guys Think Automotive who were recommended from the site anyways.... Can't go wrong if you ask me. Stuart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Paul Richards Posted September 15, 2008 Area Representative Share Posted September 15, 2008 I too have gone the mechanical route with a Racetech gauge and it is recommended. You can however make big improvementrs with the standard sender. The main problem seems to be water entering. When fitting a new one, seal the gap around the terminal with silicon. It will prolong the accurate life of the sender. Paul Richards Area Representative - L.A.D.S. (Lancashire and District Sevens) LADS Website Growing old is compulsory - Growing up is optional Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted September 15, 2008 Share Posted September 15, 2008 ... and also seal the big gap around the outside of the body ! Vip - if yours is less than a year old, get a credit from CC - I did ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamQ Posted September 16, 2008 Share Posted September 16, 2008 When my Caterham sender gave up the ghost, I took a gamble and ordered a Racetech sender (Part No. RP-AST-OS) and suitable adapter (Part No. ADP-M12X15A) from Merlin Motorsport. I didn't know whether that sender was compatible with the Caterham gauge. However, having found out that the gauges are just ammeters, I simply measured the resistance of a known good Caterham sender and my Racetech one under no pressure. The resistances were 310 and 306 ohms respectively and so I am reasonably confident that I am getting an accurate reading, at least at the low end of the scale. Somebody who followed this route was concerned that the adapter, which is brass (despite what it says on the Merlin web site), was not up to the job. I subsequently did some sums and reckon it's fine, but there is a steel adapter available for added reassurance. FWIW ... Adam Edited by - AdamQ on 16 Sep 2008 07:45:51 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben7 Posted September 16, 2008 Share Posted September 16, 2008 I went through two think automotive mechanical guages as they consistently read 10-15 psi lower (even more when cold!) than a hand held snap on guage. I spent most of my time looking at the guage rather than the road! I opted for the Stack mechanical and it's first class. It also seems to dampen/smooth out the pressure readings giving you a more consistent read out. Plus they look sexy Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viperbl Posted September 16, 2008 Author Share Posted September 16, 2008 Where did you buy the Stack gauge? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Day Posted September 16, 2008 Share Posted September 16, 2008 as they consistently read 10-15 psi lower (even more when cold!) than a hand held snap on guage. How do you know the Snap-On gauge was accurate? At the end of the day these things are only a "gauge" of what 's happening. That's why they're called worry gauges & why mainstream manufactures no longer have figures on their gauges. Incidentaly have you noticed that all mainstream temperature gauges go up half way & then never shift even when stuck in traffic on a hot day? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Owen Posted September 16, 2008 Share Posted September 16, 2008 SPA gauge & sender, new sender relocated via 150mm braided hose. here Superb quality & works a treat but not cheap ☹️ Edited by - Simon Owen on 16 Sep 2008 13:36:09 Edited by - Simon Owen on 16 Sep 2008 13:38:31 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viperbl Posted September 16, 2008 Author Share Posted September 16, 2008 Oh, so many options!!!!! Cheers guys! Not a bad idea that tho, relocating the sender away from water and most of the vibration but keeping oil out of the cabin ... GPR sent me an email, they are doing specials on duel digital, so I could get oil pressure and temp on the same guage (I do like my digital ) Would the current oil temp sender work with a new gaugh tho ... Edited by - viperbl on 16 Sep 2008 13:39:15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Plato Posted September 16, 2008 Share Posted September 16, 2008 Incidentaly have you noticed that all mainstream temperature gauges go up half way & then never shift even when stuck in traffic on a hot day? thats 'cos they are not connected to anything 😬 Taffia rear gunner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted September 16, 2008 Share Posted September 16, 2008 My previous Octavia one, and my Mazda 6 gauge certainly do just that !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben7 Posted September 16, 2008 Share Posted September 16, 2008 Hi Mick, I don't know that the snap on was necessarily accurate, but I also fitted a oil pressure light that went on when the pressure hit 25psi. It never lit up, despite the fitted gauge telling me I had. The new Stack gauge now alignes with the snapon readout, so all in all a process of deduction Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Owen Posted September 16, 2008 Share Posted September 16, 2008 In terms of SPA then the senders come with the gauge, can't comment on the others but I'm sure this would be the same with most gauges. Beware some digital (particularly SPA) gauges do not look great from the viewing angle in a seven, it doesn't bother me (SPA oil & water temp ) but some find they prefer to rotate the gauge to alter the viewing angle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil_K Posted September 16, 2008 Share Posted September 16, 2008 Think Automotive mechanical gauge works well for me. It beats putting your trust in an electronic signal from a known carp source Where am I? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tre Zarcoff Posted September 16, 2008 Share Posted September 16, 2008 Just moving the Caerbont sender (using the remote mounting kit) works well. I like cream... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannylt Posted September 16, 2008 Share Posted September 16, 2008 I've got a Stack mechanical gauge to fit, since the electronic one has a habit of going crazy sometimes - I now suspect because it's mounted to engine, so I'll move it. I thought it was 1/8npt, but the sender looks far bigger than that - anyone know offhand before I order the wrong bits from Think? I was going to get a t-piece on a length of braided line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Day Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 If you tell Think the engine age they'll be able to tell you what thread for the sender. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannylt Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 It's in part of a remote oil filter fitting, but I think the VDO senders are M10 taper thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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