just scored a 3-bar oil gauge out of a junkyard 240 (mount in empty space to right of instrument cluster). Got most of the wiring but did not waste time getting the cruddy old sending unit.
Since this was a optional gauge, is the correct sending unit avaialble from AutoZone and/or Advance Auto.

thanks!
steve

 

highly unlikely any generic junk from AutoBigBoxStore of choice would work. even if you found an oil pressure sensor with the right threads, odds are not good it would have the right output scale for that meter.

 

thanks for the reply, pierce!
So, where do I head now for an oil pressure sender that will work with this 3-bar gauge?

 

back to that same junkyard? I doubt that gauge is available new anymore. In fact, I wonder where it was installed, the factory oil pressure sensor is just a on-off switch for the dashboard light... maybe the gauge came with a replacement sensor that has both linear pressure and the idiot light pressure switch?

 

ah, my guess was right, the OE pressure sensor (came in 3, 5, and 10 bar versions) is a 2 terminal sensor that replaces the stock 1 terminal idiot light pressure switch, this is on the right (exhaust) side of the engine near the oil filter.

Gauge FAQs

 

The donor car is no longer an option as it was on it's way to the crusher when I grabbed the 52mm 3-Bar Oil Pressure Gauge.

I have done LOTS of google searches and LOTS of reading today and my head is spinning. But I have figured out it is indeed a 2-terminal sender .... NOW, where to get one without having to oder one?

Found a post some place that stated the 3 & 5 bar VDO gauges are exact same except for the numbers on the face, so the same sending unit / sender will work for either.
Found the egauge.com website and it appears the correct VDO sender is VDO # 360-006, but I am NOT certain of this.
Also, looks like oreillyauto.com has the VDO sending units.

From pictures of original/greazey gauge sending units on flea-BAY, it also appears I need a 45° elbow to install the sending unit.

 

if the gauges are the same other than the numbers, then they would read different BAR for the same sender resistance, implying the senders have to match the gauge or the scale will be wrong.

now, if both 3 and 5 bar gauges read '2' for a given resistance, then the senders would be the same, and the gauges would be different sensitivity.

 

that's what I thought also, but the way it was explained is that the gauge readings are "relative". Both gauges use a 0-180 ohm sender, per the post. At 180 ohm, both gauges would read zero. At 0 ohms, the 3 bar gauge would peg and read 3 and the 5 bar gauge would peg and read 5. So, I guess at 90 ohm, the 3 bar would read approx 1.5 and the 5 bar would read approx 2.5.

just reporting what I read elsewhere ... I think on a Porshe board of all places.


now, to find me a sending unit locally ..................................

 

so the sender has to match the gauge, or the readings will be wrong.

 

I believe that all Mercedes have 3 bar guages. Perhaps a sending unit from one of those would work?