Monday, July 21, 2008

Building a Pressure Chamber to Test Oil Pressure Sensors

I got a crazy idea to test how oil pressure sensors actually work and this lab project is the result.






Parts List


  • (1) gas bottle, (never had gas is safe, used is cheaper)
  • (3) 1/2" black pipe tees
  • (3) 1/2" close fit black pipe (or the shortest pipe available)
  • (1) 3/4" to 1/2" Black Pipe Pipe Adapter
  • (4) 1/2" to 1/4" Black Pipe Adapter
  • (2) 1/4" brass male air connector
  • (2) 1/4" quarter turn air valves, male/female
  • (1) 1/4" air coupler, male
  • (1) 1/4" air coupler, female
  • (1) 1/4" Air Pressure Gauge
  • (1) 1/4" Air Coupler Quick Connect, female
  • (1) An oil pressure sensor that fits your vehicle


Personally I like to be able to drive my truck while I'm experimenting, otherwise I could just use the oil pressure sensor that's already on it.

The Ford oil pressure sensor I bought fits a 1/4" pipe adapter. Other makes and models may be different, so in that case you would have to adjust the parts list to get the sensor to fit. In the case of a metric sensor, fitment may be difficult without making your own adapter using a black pipe cap that you cut a hole in and tap to fit.

Lab Projects Articles


Next: Changes to the Test Pressure Chamber
Previous: Demo of Auxiliary Power Input on the Test Control Panel

1 comment:

Pressure Sensor said...

Wow, great article, I really appreciate your thought process and having it explained properly, thank you! I really like this post.