1.9 tdi oil pressure?

4wd-n-archery

Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2011
Location
SE Michigan
My 2003 jetta has an oil pressure gauge installed. When I first start it cold it is at about. 40 psi. When I start driving for about 2 miles it is at 60 psi. Once it warms up it settles in at about 35 psi. These reading are cruising at 2000 rpm.
Anyone know why the predictable inconsistencies?
Also oil level is correct, and it runs great. Doesn't seem to be a problem but I really watch it for the first couple miles.
 

rockwood

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2011
Location
San Diego
TDI
2000 Jetta TDI
Oil thins as it warms. Therefore, warmer oil = lower pressure. 10 psi per 1000rpm is the old school standard, but really just pay attention to what it usually is and watch for deltas.
 

RacerTodd

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 28, 2007
Location
Kirkland, WA
TDI
2001 Golf TDI
I have an 80psi gauge on my 2001 TDI. When cold it pegs the gauge at idle, summer or winter. Once warm, idle pressure is around 20psi, at 2000rpm about 40, at 3000rpm closer to 50-60.
 

fantomas

Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2011
Location
Germany
TDI
MK2-AFN, MK4-ARL
The only VW specs one can find:
min. 31psi at 2000rpm and
min. 47psi at 3000rpm
with warmed up engine.
 

Bran Diezel

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2009
Location
Bristol, Va
TDI
On my 5th TDi - 2003 ALH 5spd Wagon
i was thinking of installing one on my car. are there any pods that don't mount in the place of the radio or on the "A" pillar? i haven't looked for the hook up on the block/sending unit yet either. where is yours installed?
 

Corsair

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 17, 2003
Location
Weedsport, New York
TDI
2002 Jetta GLS TDI 5M
gauges- what I did... (Jetta)

Not sure if the golf uses same steering column / instrument cluster clearance as the jetta ? I found a neat two-gauge pod that sits atop the steering column, perfect. Still gives visibility of the gauges and center cluster of "idiot lights". In my particular seating posture, I can directly still see the odo and trip odo, but have to move my head to the left a bit to get full view of the LCD clock (which is on left side). I'm perfectly willing to do that, for the presence of the easily mounted gauges. Now, if I could just remember where from did I get the gauge pod? Actually I think it might be a device marketed by auto-meter gauges, that I purchased through Summit racing. I'll do some digging and post back to this thread if I can find specifics (for the jetta, anyway- hope it may be same for Golf).

YES, I FOUND IT AT SUMMIT. SAYS GOLF AND JETTA, ~ $33, HERE's LINK
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ATM-20020/
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If your car has pillar air bags, then pillar mounted gauge is a no-no.
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The oil pressure sending switch, where you can tap into engine oil pressure is mounted: Look under hood at the oil filter. Base of that housing, on passenger side, you'll see something screwed in with single wire sticking out. That is the oil pressure switch. A Tee is installed there, into which the stock pressure sending switch + the new oil pressure sending unit is installed. Running the wires is very easy with a TDI of these years, because there is a plugged knockout hole in the firewall that would otherwise take the cable from the accelerator pedal. (TDIs are drive by wire and the wire is routed elsewhere).
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As for specific gauges, there are many choices. Here's what I did. Note it comes in two portions: The Good, and The Unresolved.
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The Good
I stumbled across a company McNally Instruments located in Florida. Looks like this might be a small off-chute company of an avionics company. They have a neat web site (google). (I am not affiliated with them, nor am I a bird-dog.)
Their gauges, each gauge has a needle and digital display. That is, a single gauge can display two different quantities at the same time. So, you could have one gauge that displays oil pressure and boost at the same time- saves space etc. BTW all the gauges have a function by which they will display the vehicle system Voltage for a few seconds on press of a button.
They offer some gauges aimed specifically at the VW TDIs
They offer gauges in different (backlight + digital display) colors. (so, I was able to get gauges that have the same blue lighting as rest of my jetta dash)
Specifically for the VW oil pressure, they offer a small machined metal manifold that you screw in where the stock oil pressure sender switch goes. The manifold has 3 ports: Stock switch + new oil pressure sender + new oil temp sender if you choose to do all three, else plug the unused port.
Expect to pay around $250 for a typical gauge. Agreed, that's quite a sum of $ for a single gauge, but then again it's a highly integrated unit that takes the place of two gauges.
For the record, I bought 2 gauges:
Oil pressure on needle, oil temp on digital
Boost on needle, EGT on digital.
I also bought the oil pressure sending manifold.
Items are of high quality, installed as described. They do not have a separate wire for gauge backlighting. (no tapping into vehicle dimmer ckt etc.) They use a light sensor within the gauge, that dims the gauge at night. I was concerned that I would not like this, wanting to have control over it myself. Now that I have them, I'm content with the auto dim operation.
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The Unresolved
Two issues:
[1] I mentioned earlier that the gauges have the ability to display vehicle Voltage for a few seconds. (you press one of the small buttons on the gauge twice quickly). Well, one of the gauges seems to be calibrated wrong, as it displays about one Volt higher than what the system Voltage actually is (and what the other gauge, and my DMM indicate...) I suspect this is just a simple factory cal "human error" issue. I contacted McNally and they told me no problem, return the gauge and they'll address it.
[2] One or both of the gauges I installed, is causing significant radio interference with the stock (monsoon) radio in my jetta. FM reception is greatly decreased, and AM reception is also affected. I have narrowed the source down to the gauges, no question. I have not narrowed it any further to determine if it is one gauge in particular, or both etc. Ball is in my court, I simply have not had the time to diagnose further. (I'm an electrical engineer....) I did contact McNally and ask them about this, they say they have not had any complaint about interference from the gauges. So, at this point, I know that I will be returning one gauge to have the VDC recalibrated. I have not returned that gauge yet, because I want to first diagnose the interference and see if it is coming from one gauge etc. I have specific steps / tests in mind to do, but life is busy in other areas at the moment and I simply have not had the time. I'm confident that I can address the interference issue. Note it may not be the gauges themselves, but could be how the wiring is installed (by me) in the car. I'm writing this in the interest of disclosure, not to beat up the gauge company. Again, ball is presently in my court. I am very happy with operation of the gauges.
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Why are Corsair's posts always so long??
 

Bran Diezel

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2009
Location
Bristol, Va
TDI
On my 5th TDi - 2003 ALH 5spd Wagon
haha great follow up man. i appreciate it. :) I think i may check out the autometer cobalt gauges. i think they will match decent.
 

smltwnguy30

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2010
Location
Jefferson City Missouri
TDI
2002 VW Golf TDI 2 dr 5 spd
Corsair, I have dual McNally gauges in a new south pod on my steering column also. You should maybe switch your power wire location and check wherevyou put your ground. Under the steering column if you used the terminal strip for key on accessory power you shouldn't have an issue. Also it's easy to see one of the ringed safety ground points directly under the center of the steering column (if I remember right, but I'm 100% positive it's easy to see when you remove the paneling under the column) if I have to I could take some pics? Hope that you clear up the issue...
 

Corsair

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 17, 2003
Location
Weedsport, New York
TDI
2002 Jetta GLS TDI 5M
Many thanks ! This is encouraging. Does your car with the McNallys happen to have the VW monsoon radio ? And I assume you're stating no issues with radio interference ? I really need to work on this, but have been so busy with other things...
 

AndyBees

Top Post Dawg
Joined
May 27, 2003
Location
Southeast Kentucky
TDI
Silver 2003 Jetta TDI, Silver 2000 Jetta TDI (sold), '84 Vanagon with '02 ALH engine
I'd venture to guess that that the 4 spray oilers (for cooling purposes primarily) at the bottom of each cylinder and the oil feed to the Turbo have a tendacy to lower the pressure comparative to a similar engine without those characteristics.

Also, the pressure relief system (in the oil pump and/or filter housing) may vary from engine to engine as to how it operates!
 

drozia

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 14, 2012
Location
Turkey
TDI
AFN 1.9 110 hp Cordoba SX
Hello. My AFN engine measures higher than 5 bar (50 psi) at cold or hot any time stable at display. It doesn't change. what is the cause for this problem? or is it a problem?
 

AndyBees

Top Post Dawg
Joined
May 27, 2003
Location
Southeast Kentucky
TDI
Silver 2003 Jetta TDI, Silver 2000 Jetta TDI (sold), '84 Vanagon with '02 ALH engine
Could be a faulty gauge or sending unit.............
 
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