walkthrough: installing an electric oil press. gauge!

pics from my install this weekend: hopefully it helps some of you out:


get together the stuff: the sender and adapter fitting, and teflon tape. and a wrench doesnt hurt either!



take a wrench to the metal ring on the stock sensor. it should be easy to loosen.



wrap ALL threads in teflon tape, and then re-install into the port on the head. tighten down until you cant see threads! (you wont need to keep stock sender. it doesnt throw a CEL on my car. so im assumming it never does.)


attach the wires to the sender and run them into the cab.
done. if any questions feel free to ask! i will help as soon as possible.


- Cameron (CaliforniaCavalier)
- www.csc-motorsports.com

2 things...

is the tread size 1/4 NPT where it goes into the head or am I remembering wrong?

And 2...... Doesn't that make the oil light come on in you dash?

There's another location that might give you better reading for the Oil pressure... right above the water pump (yes, by the exhaust side of the motor). You'd have to use search to find the pictures.



Guess Who's back!!!

1) i did not measure the size of the thread in the block. i just used the adapter that came with the autometer gauge and it fit.

2) it does not turn on my light in my dash. do you see the 2 connections on the electronic sender? 1 of those wires goes into the cab to the gauge. the other one is the old stock sender. i simply cut the head off and connected it to the sender. that way it throws NO light.

3) i know there is a better location. i did a lot of reading about it actually. but its a &$^% to get to. this is A LOT easier and gives me an accurate reading.

my oil pressure ranges from 25-75 depending on gear & RPM, but usually it stays close to 50. but i have an accurate reading, so i dont see any problem with putting it in a place where i can barely get to.



- Cameron (CaliforniaCavalier)
- www.csc-motorsports.com

Yes, 1/4"











~2014 New Z under the knife, same heart different body~
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The problem with putting it in the head that I don't like is that the head is aluminum. When the head gets warm, it expands, and tends to leak. The expansion rate of the aluminum is greater than the brass and/or steel fitting that screws into it. I've got mine in the head now, but would like to move it to the block somewhere.



2010 Subaru Impreza WRX Limited
1999 Cavalier Z24 Supercharged
1999 Grand AM SE (Beater Car)
1997 GMC Sierra
2007 Honda CBR 600RR
2005 Honda TRX450R

if that were true then wouldnt it be the same for the stock sender? to my knowledge the stock sender that screws in isnt aluminum.....

if its good enough for chevy to put the stock sender there, then its good enough for me to use with mine.


- Cameron (CaliforniaCavalier)
- www.csc-motorsports.com

I'm fairly certain the end end of the stock sender is aluminum.



2010 Subaru Impreza WRX Limited
1999 Cavalier Z24 Supercharged
1999 Grand AM SE (Beater Car)
1997 GMC Sierra
2007 Honda CBR 600RR
2005 Honda TRX450R

Good work


____________________________________
Primer Counts as Custom Paint Right?
BTW: This is my Sig.

I already decided thats where I'm going to hook mine when I get one a long time ago..... I did a crap load of researching myself. It's just way too damn easy to mount it there... and i've never heard of anyone having problems doing it that way.

Also... even if for some reason the head expanded to the point that it would make a difference (I doubt it's even possible).... if would just become a little losse and you would notice the leak if you where that paranoid.... it's not like it would seize in there or anything.

besides.... thats what the tape is for... I'de crap myself if that became a problem.

Cavalier2000 wrote:Good work

thank you. its nice to have simple positive feedback after i spend time doing things here.

Weebel wrote:I already decided thats where I'm going to hook mine when I get one a long time ago..... I did a crap load of researching myself. It's just way too damn easy to mount it there... and i've never heard of anyone having problems doing it that way.

Also... even if for some reason the head expanded to the point that it would make a difference (I doubt it's even possible).... if would just become a little losse and you would notice the leak if you where that paranoid.... it's not like it would seize in there or anything.

besides.... thats what the tape is for... I'de crap myself if that became a problem.

i know. i dont see the head expanding to the point where it would matter. the teflon tape will stop it rubbing and leaking.

and its fine in that location because it has INSTANT response depending on the gas i give it....


- Cameron (CaliforniaCavalier)
- www.csc-motorsports.com

I used a tee to install both sending units, since I figured you needed to keep the stock one. My aftermarket sender only had one wire clip.

I only see minor pressure lag, with a range of between 15 PSI hot idle, and 80 PSI cold. (2.2 OHV)


Edited 2 time(s). Last edited Thursday, November 22, 2007 8:29 AM


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Good Job on this write up man...

Sorry about the double post i was going to ask a question. I would like to do this mod but from what you have shown the stock sender has a plug that has multiple wires. What wire do you cut and hook up to the new sender? Or what do you mean by "i simply cut the head off and connected it to the sender"???

I am assuming you need to cut a wire from your comment -

CaliforniaCavalier wrote:2) it does not turn on my light in my dash. do you see the 2 connections on the electronic sender? 1 of those wires goes into the cab to the gauge. the other one is the old stock sender. i simply cut the head off and connected it to the sender. that way it throws NO light.

and what kind of autometer gauge did you use if you don't mind me asking? the other gauges I have are autometer so I was just curious.

95-97 2.2 ohv, alternate sender location:




Use a 1/4" ratchet and extension, no socket.

Remove the cap plug (there are 2, it doesn't matter which)

I believe it is a 3/8" NPT opening

please notice:

all the pictures of the "alternate location" where you can put the sender, the MOTOR IS OUT OF THE CAR. im doing a simple, 1 hour job.

the top is FINE no matter what anyone else says. ive seen both and there really is no difference unless you have an engine that is MUCH bigger then our 4-bangers. then you might notice a small difference.

in any case, the stock sensor had a 3 pin head that connected to the stock sender in the block. i cut the 3 pin head off to leave just a wire, then connected it to the gauge.

i dont know what autometer gauge i have. i got it over a year ago and just never connected it. then i got the balls and just did it. and it works great. have some confidence and you will do a great job.




- Cameron (CaliforniaCavalier)
- www.csc-motorsports.com

ok i just went out and about froze my barneys off but.... i have looked the engine over about a dozen times and i can't for the life of me find where this is located at can anyone help???

Slytly Twiztid wrote:ok i just went out and about froze my barneys off but.... i have looked the engine over about a dozen times and i can't for the life of me find where this is located at can anyone help???

if you are talking about where i mounted the sender into the block, then its easy to find

its between the top 2 cam towers. its like RIGHT ABOVE your #4 spark plug, right next to your power steering resevoir. you might have to take the 2.4L twin cam cover off to get to it. i know i did.

good luck


- Cameron (CaliforniaCavalier)
- www.csc-motorsports.com

CaliforniaCavalier wrote:please notice:

all the pictures of the "alternate location" where you can put the sender, the MOTOR IS OUT OF THE CAR. im doing a simple, 1 hour job.

the top is FINE no matter what anyone else says. ive seen both and there really is no difference unless you have an engine that is MUCH bigger then our 4-bangers. then you might notice a small difference.

in any case, the stock sensor had a 3 pin head that connected to the stock sender in the block. i cut the 3 pin head off to leave just a wire, then connected it to the gauge.

i dont know what autometer gauge i have. i got it over a year ago and just never connected it. then i got the balls and just did it. and it works great. have some confidence and you will do a great job.

The sender was installed with the engine in the car, however due to placement, it was difficult to get a good picture of the location... since I ended up pulling that engine, I took advantage of the situation

took about 30 minutes, which included a trip to the hardware store to get the right adapter piece.

30 minutes? not bad but we all know you are smarter then the average member here, kardain





- Cameron (CaliforniaCavalier)
- www.csc-motorsports.com

ok i was always told that the 2.2 and the 2200 were the same? from what i'm gathering is their not? I have a 2200 SFI and i'm not seeing what your talking about so i might have to go more in depth with it or something...

Or would you have a wider angle shot to show where it is like kardain's picture??? I have even looked in the location that he showed in his picture and i didn't see anything there...

Or maybe my info is all screwed up and the engines aren't alike at all...

Slytly Twiztid wrote:ok i was always told that the 2.2 and the 2200 were the same? from what i'm gathering is their not? I have a 2200 SFI and i'm not seeing what your talking about so i might have to go more in depth with it or something...

Or would you have a wider angle shot to show where it is like kardain's picture??? I have even looked in the location that he showed in his picture and i didn't see anything there...

Or maybe my info is all screwed up and the engines aren't alike at all...

That looks like a 2.4 in the first pics

@CaliforniaCavalier -- I'll be honest... the search button is my friend sometimes

i thought you were talking about the 2.4L motor, sorry. i have the 2.4L motor.
im not completely sure where it is on that 2.2 motor.


- Cameron (CaliforniaCavalier)
- www.csc-motorsports.com

If I recall the Autometer instructions mentioned not to mount the sending unit completely horizontal like such, no idea why, I just recall reading that.

I suppose if it works like that, well then it works.

Mine is mounted 45' with an adapter I had found at the hardware store. Worked awesome.

my directions didnt make any mention to NOT mounting it like that.

and i read on these forums that by using a longer piece that it can rattle loose and bend from the pressure of driving. so i was too scared to use any kind of extension... mine turned out awesome as well !


- Cameron (CaliforniaCavalier)
- www.csc-motorsports.com