Oil pressure sensor replacement

[Ulf]

I have owned my car for 3 years now and driven it some 6000 kms. In all those years, the oil pressure gauge in the instrument cluster has never worked. And frankly - even after most of my youth spent in Triumphs and MGs - that scares me...
With the engine off it (naturally) reads nothing, but as soon as it is started it goes to the max and stays there and never fluctuates with the revs as it should (right?). I'm thinking that the culprit is the "Öldruckgeber" - the little round oil pressure sensor/transmitter on the engine - they are quite cheap (36 EUR/50 USD), but is it an easy fix or should I leave it to a pro?

Here's the link to the part on Ebay: http://cgi.ebay.de/Oldruckgeber-Oldrucksensor-Mercedes-Pagode-W113-NEU-/360314707308?pt=Autoteile_Zubehör&hash=item53e46e1d6c#ht_1005wt_1013

Thanks in advance

Ulf

[jacovdw]

Pagodas never came with electrical oil pressure sensors...

The oil pressure gauge is a mechanical device that has a pressure line from the oil filter housing to a Bourbon type pressure gauge in the instrument cluster.

[Ulf]

Jaco - I never said it was electrical, just wondering whether it's an easy fix or not ;-)

Ulf

[Larry & Norma]

Mine does the same which is an indication of a good engine,pump etc. It is
only as the engine wears that the pressure drops and may fluctuate at idle.
At least that is what i believe!

[Ulf]

Sounds good - the gauge in my TR6 used to follow the revs very closely and I assumed that the gauge in a Pagoda would do the same. I really hope you are right on this one ;-)

Ulf

[Larry & Norma]

Ulf, read the 'technical manual' on this site the 'oil pressure' section confirms
what I have said. So good news for you
Larry

[Ulf]

Thanks Larry - nothing like good news on a grey day in November :-)

[glenn]

Thank the Pagoda gods--!!  Sounds like you have a good pump and tight clearances.  Pull the coil wire and crank the engine.  Watch the pressure gage.  Goes to 45?(US).  Drops off to zero when you stop cranking?   

[ctaylor738]

It's fairly easy to connect a gauge to check the pressure.  I would think after a decent run on the highway, you would see a drop at idle.

Is your thermostat working and the engine temperature hitting at least 80 degrees? 

What weight oil are you using?

[Ulf]

The temp is rock steady at 80, thermostat is fine, oil Agips mineral 20/50 in summer, 15/40 in autumn/winter (not that the car sees much use out of season)
Will take a look at if after the next motorway drive to see whether it drops a little beneath the max :-)

Ulf

[glenn]

Ulf, Congratulation on your life style upgrade--MG/Triumph to MB.  This is an adjustment that takes time to sink in.  Help is here on this Forum.  Hum drum standards and tractor motor specs are now behind you.  Your mindset has new horizons. ..  Welcome to a new world.

[Ulf]

Ulf, Congratulation on your life style upgrade--MG/Triumph to MB.  This is an adjustment that takes time to sink in.  Help is here on this Forum.  Hum drum standards and tractor motor specs are now behind you.  Your mindset has new horizons. ..  Welcome to a new world.

I agree, and I'm hooked and not going back any time soon, but on the other hand it seems to me that the Pagodas are far more complicated cars that are not as easy to work on for a very unskilled DIY-mechanic like me. And parts are extremely expensive too compared to the Brits - but then again, you don't need to replace stuff all the time ;-)