My gauge readings...

[Kevlar]

Well, after having the guages installed. I noticed a few things. My voltmeter reads 12ish volts when the car isn't running... 14.5ish when the car is running... about 13-13.5 when I have the A/C, radio and lights on.

The oil pressure guage... reads about 50-55psi when cold, about 10-12psi when warm... and after a high speed run, it reads maybe 2-5psi... very minimal (is that normal)

Now oil temperature... Under highway driving conditions, it reads about 160-180. In stop and go traffic, I've seen it reach 200ish. I haven't seen it go over 200 degrees yet. I've been in moderate traffic, nothing heavy yet? Is that normal too? It does take the oil temp guage an awful long time to get past 120degrees when the car is cold.

Oil pressure drops down to 10psi even when the oil temp guage is reading 120. I'm guessing the car thinks the oil is warm enough at 120 degrees... odd.

[BMWguy206]

Kevlar,

BMW specs call for oil pressure at idle speed with engine at operating temperature at 0.5 bar (7.35psi).

Regulated pressure is 4.0 bar (58.8psi) when driving around.

Note that when engine rpm increases, oil pressure goes up. so oil pressure will also depend on engine speed.

When driven hard, oil temp. can reach up to 270F.. sometimes even higher. When oil temp. increases, oil pressure increases but not as much and vice versa.

Give us your oil pressure readings at idle and at a certain engine speed. Some of your numbers doesn't seem right but I'm not sure if they're at idle or not and if the vehicle is at operating temp.

Your voltage readings are normal.

You should check out the European 3.2L M3 and the S62B50 M5 and Z8s regulated engine oil pressure
100BAR! (1,470psi)

[Kevlar]

Oil pressure at idle (under most circumstances) reads about 8-10psi. However, after a high speed run extended triple digit speeds... at idle i noticed about 2-5 psi.

Under 2000rpms, I notice less than 20psi oil pressure. Over 2000rpms, I notice anywhere between 30-40psi. Over 3000rpms, I notice upwards of 50-60psi (mostly 58psi).

And for temperature, after my high speed run, the temperature guage maybe got to 202-205 degrees. Under my average driving conditions, I've seen 200 degrees.

I haven't seen anything over 205 degrees yet.

[themadhatter]

what did you gauge kit run for? I'm guessing you picked up the one from BMP?

[jww///95]

That 2-3 psi number sounds pretty low. I would question either the location of the sending unit or the accuracy of the electric sending unit at the low end of the scale on an analog gauge.

Maybe Jon can answer this one...If a bmw tech were to connect a mechanical oil pressure gauge to the car, where would the test location be? Would the oil press warning sender be temporarily removed?

You should check all the fittings on the distribution block, but if the low pressure readings continue you should really have them verified with a mechanical gauge to rule out any problems with the engine oiling system.

[Kevlar]

I got the guage kit from Eastern Motorwerks. I got my kit for $330 cause it was on sale for the holidays... normally the kit runs for $380.

Normal idle conditions yield 10ish psi. I found it kinda odd after a high speed run the oil pressure seemed to drop to a lower than normal pressure level.

I just tried the car again and it read 10psi at idle.

[BMWguy206]

jww///95,

The oil filter housing is the best place. The stock oil pressure sensor is located there and the block that comes with most kits work well.

BMW has a oil pressure gauge kit that goes directly on top of the oil filter. Its that rod that tightens down the oil filter cap. This kit is made for the E46 M3 S54B32 engine.

[BAADDOG]

Originally posted by Kevlar
Well, after having the guages installed. I noticed a few things. My voltmeter reads 12ish volts when the car isn't running... 14.5ish when the car is running... about 13-13.5 when I have the A/C, radio and lights on.

The oil pressure guage... reads about 50-55psi when cold, about 10-12psi when warm... and after a high speed run, it reads maybe 2-5psi... very minimal (is that normal)

Now oil temperature... Under highway driving conditions, it reads about 160-180. In stop and go traffic, I've seen it reach 200ish. I haven't seen it go over 200 degrees yet. I've been in moderate traffic, nothing heavy yet? Is that normal too? It does take the oil temp gauge an awful long time to get past 120degrees when the car is cold.

Oil pressure drops down to 10psi even when the oil temp guage is reading 120. I'm guessing the car thinks the oil is warm enough at 120 degrees... odd.

Kevlar,

Your electrical volts reading are right on for a new and fully charged battery with the charging system functioning within spec.

What weight oil are you using?

Your oil pressure should read about 8 psi at idle with a warm engine and oil.

50-59 psi at speed, depending on speed.

Oil temp takes a while to come up past 120 degrees in cool weather. Here in the Chicago area winters it may take as long as 20-30 minutes. Just a few minutes in the summer time.

At speed my oil temp is about 180-190, in traffic about 220.

What is the indicating range of your oil gauges?

The sender and the gauge range are a matched set for accuracy.

[Kevlar]

I'm currently using 0W-30 AMSoil.

Under maximum load... actually at anything over 3000rpm, I'm seeing over 50psi. At redline 2nd, 3rd, 4th... maximum noted oil pressure was 58psi or something in that range.

My oil temp. has been under 200degrees under most conditions. The only time I've seen over 200 (205 degrees) after my high speed run. In traffic I noticed a maximum 200ish degrees. Nothing really over that.

[Bob ///M3]

I'm suprised your oil pressure drops as low as 2.5 to 5 psi at "anytime"! Mine runs no less than about 12 psi even after a hard run.

The oil temperature does take a long time to reach its maximum (for the conditions) depending on whether its highway driving or stop-and-go driving. Your temperature sounds correct.

Your voltage sounds correct also.

Bob <font color="1E90FF">/</font><font color="7D26CD">/</font><font color="red">/</font><b><font color="gray">M3</font></b>

[BSH]

Originally posted by Jon Caldito
You should check out the European 3.2L M3 and the S62B50 M5 and Z8s regulated engine oil pressure
100BAR! (1,470psi)

You're joking, right??? :

[BMWguy206]

Big Lun,

Thats the VANOS nominal oil pressure. Not the engines oil system.

[Bryan ///M3]

Originally posted by Kevlar


My oil temp. has been under 200degrees under most conditions. The only time I've seen over 200 (205 degrees) after my high speed run. In traffic I noticed a maximum 200ish degrees. Nothing really over that.

This is my experience too, so as Bob ///M3 said, it seems normal.

I was wondering though... the stock oil temperature gauge in my M roadster consistantly reads about 30 degrees higher under the same driving conditions (it has the same engine). Perhaps one of the gauges is off? Both are VDO, but they are different models.

[ArcticFox]

I bet it is an inaccuracy withthe gauges in both cases. I also have the Eastern Motorwekes gauge kit via ECIS (thanks Sean). My oil pressure seems to be on the nose...about 7 psi when hot.

My oil temps have seen about 230 (cannot judge the accuracy of that as there is no benchmark).

Voltage is also in the normal ranges...12 off, just under 14 running.

So I think it is either a guage inaccuracy due to the gauge, or the senders accuracy or location. The pressure sender, if a VDO sender, should be angled in such a manner that is can DRAIN when the car is off. The top needs to be tilted upwards (the top is where you connect your wire) or it can prematurely fail (from VDO's info). If you have the JTD distribution block, it will solve tah problem. You may want to replace the sender if it is troubling you to see your oil pressures below 7psi. Tim

[BSH]

What's the point of these gauges if the are inaccurate? I'd only consider purchasing them if they ACCURATELY monitor my engine.

[M3Jokster]

guys,

this is what i was told by a mechanic....when your engine is hot...what happens is that your oil thins out. thus all the oil is thoughout the engine.
with that, the oil preasure will be much less at cold.

when the motor first starts, all the oil is on the bottom of your oil, pan and it's much thicker. since oil is at that state, your oil pressure will increase.

I don't think the engine is required to have High oil pressure at normal operating temp/speed. bc all the oil is already throughout the engine internals etc.

[BMWguy206]

Bryan,

It has been known that the M Coupe's and M Roadsters generally has hotter oil temperature than the M3 mainly due to the front bumper and hood design.

SC M Coupes and Roadsters have reported seeing close to 270F on street conditions on their oil temp. Dinan charges about $3500 for their oil cooler.

[VP M3]

In my relatively stock '98 M3 with VDO gauges, I have seen oil temps as high as 240 F on the track, 215-220 90mph+ highway and 180 - 200 normal city driving.

Oil pressures have been all over the map depending on temp, revs etc., and have ranged from as low as 5-10 psi to as high as 40-50 psi. Unfotunately the pressure gauge range is likely too high and goes from 0 - 200 psi.

Here is a link for an interesting oil cooler setup by Victory Product Design for the E-36.

http://www.victoryproductdesign.com/engine_main.htm

Vico

[Bryan ///M3]

Originally posted by Jon Caldito

It has been known that the M Coupe's and M Roadsters generally has hotter oil temperature than the M3 mainly due to the front bumper and hood design.

Ahh, I suppose that makes sense.

Dinan charges about $3500 for their oil cooler.

Yikes! I hope that comes with a blower...