How to confirm or test the pressure of the engine oil, gearbox oil and turbo?

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I am in the process to install an NMEA 2000 converter to set up the digital gauge panel on an LCD because I always doubt the old analogue gauges reading. The converter has a calibration function to suit all sensors. But, the problem is how to test the real pressure from the engine? I need to test the pressure for engine oil, gearbox oil, and turbo as well. Any ideas? Many thanks.

My engines are Volvo Penta TAMD61A.
 
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Lucas Gan said:
I am in the process to install an NMEA 2000 converter to set up the digital gauge panel on an LCD because I always doubt the old analogue gauges reading. The converter has a calibration function to suit all sensors. But, the problem is how to test the real pressure from the engine? I need to test the pressure for engine oil, gearbox oil, and turbo as well. Any ideas? Many thanks.

My engines are Volvo Penta TAMD61A.
Click to expand...

You've answered your own question. You need a reliable test gauge. Check your existing instruments, then carry on.
 
Don't know what tools to use and how to may them right. Anyway, maybe I will just buy a normal car oil pressure and transmission pressure tester kit to have a try later someday.
 
WIKA 63mm dia gauges are meant to be OK at a reasonable cost (say under 20euro a piece) I have a 0-3bar, a 0-10bar and a 0-160bar.
Then you need to remove each sender, should have a male NTP (most likely) thread find an adapter to fit there and space permitting, a tee as well so you can mount both the WIKA and the sender.
Then start the engine, note down at different rpm the value on the WIKA and the gauge at the helm.
TBH, doubt you'll find massive differences and the worst offender will be the Voltage GOING IN the gauge (guess VDO) which will be then sent with two wires to the sender to measure whatever. Now, if you turn on lights or battery is low or whatnot the VIn on the gauge alters giving a different reading. WIKA of course will be showing what's really going on.
I've wrote that down in a couple of threads over the last two years I'm tunning my custom N2K black boxes and trying to get decent readings out of them.
as I said above, doubt it's worth the hassle, start by cleaning CAREFULLY all verti-gris out of connectors around the e/r and checking if sender cables are ok and flexible or rock hard and wasted.

V.
 
Thank you @ChromeDome

Thank you very much @vas. That is a very detailed instruction. I have ordered a set of pressure tester kits from another brand. Two gauges, a 0-100psi and a 0-400psi.

Yes, I do found the cable resistance between the sensor to the gauge is a problem, also the dirty and rusty connector and the battery voltage.

I am thinking how about disconnect the old analogue gauges for engine oil, gearbox oil, and turbo. So let those three sensors circuits become open, then only measure their resistance change to calibrate the N2K convertor reading. That way, at least the battery voltage change won't affect their reading anymore. Of course, the cons are there will be only an LCD screen to show the digital gauge panel for those three sensors. On the other hand, the engine rev RPM, fuel tank sensor and battery gauge will continue using voltage measurement to calibrate. So they will keep having the old analogue gauge reading and N2K reading on the LCD screen. And the battery should run a new bigger cable directly to the converter to lower the voltage drop to improve the accuracy. Just a thought. What is your opinion? Thanks.
 
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not sure that your last para will work easily. Only suggestion is try it out and see.
Not familiar with the N2K converter you are going to get so cannot help there.

V.
 
Lucas Gan said:
I am in the process to install an NMEA 2000 converter to set up the digital gauge panel on an LCD because I always doubt the old analogue gauges reading. The converter has a calibration function to suit all sensors. But, the problem is how to test the real pressure from the engine? I need to test the pressure for engine oil, gearbox oil, and turbo as well. Any ideas? Many thanks.

My engines are Volvo Penta TAMD61A.
Click to expand...
Alba Combi N2K converter by any chance ?
 
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