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How do I test my oil pressure gauge?
I’m restoring an old Chevy pickup, but I’ve hit a snag. For some reason, the oil pressure gauge isn’t moving. It’s got oil and it starts up fine, but the gauge isn’t going up. How do I test the oil pressure gauge itself?
Matt Terzi · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
That sounds like a fun project! Typically when your oil pressure gauge stops working, it isn’t actually the fault of the gauge itself but another issue affecting the gauge. The best way to test your oil pressure gauge is to find the source of the issue and have it repaired.
Usually, it’s the oil pressure sending unit that’s giving your gauge a bad reading. In some vehicles, you can find the sender and see if it’s leaking oil. If it is, you’ll need to replace the sending unit.
If you don’t see a leak, try disconnecting the sender unit’s wire and starting the truck. If the meter maxes out, it’s a bad sender or the sender wire has a problem. If the needle doesn’t move, it’s either the sender wire or the gauge.
It’s a lot easier to pull and replace the sending unit wire than it would be to get the gauge out, but you could also test the gauge with a multimeter just to be safe, provided you can find the gauge manufacturer’s specifications.
We hope this helped you learn how to test the oil pressure gauge and narrow down the list of potential suspects a bit. And while we still have you hear, would you mind if we helped you save hundreds of dollars per year on
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