13james13 wrote:

Can vary in voltage affect performance or gas mileage?

Yes...if it is significant and is drastically affectng spark voltage output.

BB
 

From my original oil gauge, new sending unit.
Oil pressure varies.  Sometimes gauge is a little over halfway, sometimes its under halfway. Sometimes gauge slowly moves in the morning, other times it moves quicker. I'm told it could be caused by varying voltage which prompted the question of performance and gas mileage. Thanks for your input. It runs pretty good. Think I should I get a new voltage regulator anyway?
James

Last edited by 13james13 (10/23/2015 8:56 PM)

Or, your oil pressure gauge is working normally. Oil pressure does fluctuate. Have you actually measured the instrument voltage? Bullet Bob, why don't you tell us how the instrument voltage regulator works.

Hornman wrote:

Or, your oil pressure gauge is working normally. Oil pressure does fluctuate. Have you actually measured the instrument voltage? Bullet Bob, why don't you tell us how the instrument voltage regulator works.

Why you pickin' on me, Ron?  I been really good...sorta.  Just mindin' my own bidness.

Actually, the stock instrument regulator (CVR) works pretty much like a turn signal flasher.  Bi-metal strip causes a set of contacts to open  and close, turning 12v on and off.  It's engineered to put out an average voltage of around 6V or so and the stock instruments are damped to the point that you mostly don't see the voltage fluxuating from 12 to zero to 12 to zero....etc, etc.

James might try a solid state adjustable CVR and see if that helps.  Is this a cold engine vs hot engine condition?  Oil pressure will drop when things warm up.  And...if he's not seeing the same variation in the Fuel and Temp guages, I'd say it isn't related to voltage.

BB
 

BobE wrote:

I agree w/John Ha & BB, this doesn't appear to be a voltage issue unless the other gauges are acting in the same manner.  I suggest installing a mechanical gauge with a 'tee' fitting at the engine so you can compare.  The thread size is a standard 1/4" NPT, fittings can are available at hardware stores, Home Depot, etc.

I agree.  First verify where the issue lies; is it the pump or the guage?
I use a mechanical oil pressure guage that screws in place of the oil pressure sending unit above the fuel pump.  then I can directly monitor the pressure while under the hood.  And remember these windsors were designed to give 10 psi per 1000 rpm.  So, 20 psi at 2000 rpm, etc.  First warm up the engine, then just rev it in neutral and see what the guage shows.  Pressure should not fluctuate.

BTW:  I purchased my guage for like $20.  I may not have even needed to get an adaptor to make it fit.  It's been a while.