Aftermarket oil pressure gauge sending units

[LUDELVR]

Does anyone know if the electronic sending units on these gauges are universal or are they manufacturer specific? I have a innovate oil pressure/temperature gauge and presently, the temperature sensor is working but the pressure sensor is not working. I think it burnt out because it is sitting on the block very close to the turbo setup. In any case, I've been trying to find a replacement from Innovate but can't seem to find the same one but I have seen some replacement ones from other companies and they look very similar to the one I have with the 2 electronic prongs that connect to the gauge itself. Does anyone know if these will work or will I have to get one directly from Innovate?

[mr2mike]

I don't know for sure with Innovate. But with any MAP sensor there's a relationship between voltage and pressure. Each point corresponds to a different voltage change.
There's probably ones that are close but my guess is they are all different.
More detail than you probably want:
https://torqbyte.com/blogs/tech/51036609-torqtune-map-sensor-calibration

[LUDELVR]

https://tomson.com.pl/product-eng-3158-Innovate-12-0044-replacement-oil-pressure-transducer-for-MTX-D-Oil-Pressure-Temperature-gauge.html

This is the only place where I have found the exact replacement. All other places I have looked are sold out. I have also just emailed Innovate directly as I am not hearing anything back from the place where I bought it from nor could I find the replacement part on Innovate's website.

Here's a cheap replacement unit I found on Ebay:

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Engine-Oil-Pressure-Sensor-Gauge-Sender-Switch-Sending-Unit-1-8-NPT-80x40mm/221987298243?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

Obviously I would love to pay the price for the cheaper one if it would work because who wouldn't want to save an extra 60 dollars!!

[BerserkerCatSplat]

Gauges are matched to a specific resistance range from the pressure sending unit that corresponds to pressure. Different sender/gauge packages will have a different correlation between pressure and resistance, so you need a sending unit that matches the resistance/pressure range of the gauge.

Innovate made two models of dual-function gauge - the older 3852 (0-100 psi) and the newer 3913 (0-145 psi), and I believe they each use a different sending unit.

The 3852's sending unit (which I assume is the one you're after, as the later model is available) is effectively discontinued, I can't even find a decent picture of it to pull the ohmage info from. The eBay one you linked is 0-145psi, so it's unlikely it will work accurately with your current gauge (it would underreport by ~30%, assuming the ohm range is the same). If you can find out the ohm range for the original gauge from Innovate, you can match those specs to an available sending unit (assuming they're not printed on the one you already have). Summit racing has a "0-100psi" unit that looks similar to the stock one (https://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/sum-g2964-os/overview/), but the image shows a 0-145psi/3-160ohm unit so it may just be the wrong unit pictured. Auto Meter (https://www.autometer.com/100-psi-electric-oil-pressure-sensor.html) also makes a 0-100psi/43-250ohm sending unit. So you can see how ohmage vs. pressure can vary wildly from brand to brand.

[LUDELVR]

Gauges are matched to a specific resistance range from the pressure sending unit that corresponds to pressure. Different sender/gauge packages will have a different correlation between pressure and resistance, so you need a sending unit that matches the resistance/pressure range of the gauge.

Innovate made two models of dual-function gauge - the older 3852 (0-100 psi) and the newer 3913 (0-145 psi), and I believe they each use a different sending unit.

The 3852's sending unit (which I assume is the one you're after, as the later model is available) is effectively discontinued, I can't even find a decent picture of it to pull the ohmage info from. The eBay one you linked is 0-145psi, so it's unlikely it will work accurately with your current gauge (it would underreport by ~30%, assuming the ohm range is the same). If you can find out the ohm range for the original gauge from Innovate, you can match those specs to an available sending unit (assuming they're not printed on the one you already have). Summit racing has a "0-100psi" unit that looks similar to the stock one (https://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/sum-g2964-os/overview/), but the image shows a 0-145psi/3-160ohm unit so it may just be the wrong unit pictured. Auto Meter (https://www.autometer.com/100-psi-electric-oil-pressure-sensor.html) also makes a 0-100psi/43-250ohm sending unit. So you can see how ohmage vs. pressure can vary wildly from brand to brand.

Awesome. Cheers for that info. I just received word from Innovate and they sent me a form that I need to fill out so I can have the gauge looked at and at the top of the form is an Autometer logo! I'll have a look at my sending unit to see what is on it but you are correct in saying that is the older one that reads 0-100 psi. Worst case, I pick up an autometer replacement seeing that that's what they seem to use anyway!

Cheers again man!

Just looking at the specs of this one, would this be more of what I'm looking for?

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Oil-Pressure-Sender-Sending-Unit-0-100psi-240-33-ohms-Output-1-8-27NPT-5-FS/171741104403?hash=item27fc914913:g:d50AAOSwnipWVCag

[BerserkerCatSplat]

Nice, hopefully the Autometer unit is the right one!

[Maxx Mazda]

If they do use Autometer sending units, Mopac usually has a few in stock so you don’t have to wait for it to be shipped.

[Tik-Tok]

Direct reading FTW... until it starts leaking, lol.

[LUDELVR]

Direct reading FTW... until it starts leaking, lol.

I bet all of the sending units from all of the big brand names are from the same company!! :rofl: