Thread: New found oil leak

Ahhh, the joys of an 18 year old car. Can somebody tell me what this sensor is? It is on the passenger side of the engine bay, directly across from the starter, which you can see on the left of the pic. Is it the oil temp sender? Is this where I would plug an aftermarket oil temp gauge sensor in (although don't most of those go in the oil pan?)? Is this a difficult fix?

That, good friend, is the stock oil dummy light sender for the cluster. If the pressure drops below where your motor cant survive a little light on the cluster tells you that your motor is now dead.

That's where a lot of people tap into for an aftermarket sender too with, say, a nissport adapter for example. Make sure you use the right thread pitch if you do stick something other than a stock sender in it. Its 1/8 BPT (sometimes called BSPT) and MOST adapters are 1/8 NPT. There is a difference and they will cross thread.

It's not an overly difficult fix, just takes some contorting of your body and arms if you dont have access to a lift.

I will have to check out the Nissport adapter!

How's the move?

Get an aftermarket oil PSI gauge and use it instead of the stock light. You don't even have to unplug the light bulb from the dash!

Mine stock one always leaked and or had problems, they cost $10 at Advance Auto parts. So if you want you can just simply replace it. You will need a new tool to unscrew it without damaging it though.

I wouldn't even worry about the Nissport, it's $50 that you can spend on a better gauge altogether.

I went with a mechanical gauge and an SS line. It was about $90 total with VDO gauge, but more reliable then electric senders that seem to fail quiet a bit!

Its called "Oil Pressure Sender."

Vadim, unless you used a 1/8 BPT brass thread (which they DO NOT sell at any hardware store only NPT - Ive looked) your block is now crossthreaded which is why you had to use silicone/rtv on that. Also, those brass adapters have been known to fail. They crack over time. My brother almost lost his motor because of one.

The nissport is made of stainless steel and will not break and its also the correct thread. Not trying to call you out on the carpet, but rather show why I believe spending the extra money on a nissport isn't really that bad of an idea.

1/8 NPT to 1/8 BSP METRIC Adapter Fitting Oil Gauge:eBay Motors (item 180420296420 end time Nov-14-09 13:10:08 PST)

aftermarket adaptor $3.99 if you decide to take the stock one off and put a aftermarket oil pressure gauge

Yes you are correct on the NPT/BSPT deal. Everything you will find in Auto stores and Hardware stores is NPT. I wouldn't use a hardware store's brass fitting either, that wont last at all.

I did a good bit of research on NPT and BSPT deal, and Autometer has a 1/8 NPT to 1/8 BSPT adapter for $10ish. Way cheaper then a Nissport

Auto Meter

Ah, good deal. Sorry it looked like a brass one in the pics.

Oh Nic, and I'm moving tomorrow morning. I should be packing, but I'm here giving advice

, it might be brass just heavier duty then normal? Autometer seems to be a good company, I hope they made these out of quality materials.