1986 Silverado oil pressure switch and sensor

[75Monza]

So I ran into something trying to figure out on my 86. It came with the oil pressure switch for the idiot light and the pressure sensor for the gauge. Near as I can tell, they are factory rated for 60 psi. I have a 383 that when cold will have upwards of 65-70 psi and around 45 hot. Both sensor and switch were leaking oil out at the terminals, so I'm guessing I over pressured them. Wanted to just install new switch and sensor, but if they are factory rated for 60, won't I just wipe out the new ones with my oil pressure? For now got rid of both and have a mechanical auto gauge sitting on the floor till I figure out what to do.
Are there higher rated factory sensors that will handle up to 80 psi?

 

[foamypirate]

So I ran into something trying to figure out on my 86. It came with the oil pressure switch for the idiot light and the pressure sensor for the gauge. Near as I can tell, they are factory rated for 60 psi. I have a 383 that when cold will have upwards of 65-70 psi and around 45 hot. Both sensor and switch were leaking oil out at the terminals, so I'm guessing I over pressured them. Wanted to just install new switch and sensor, but if they are factory rated for 60, won't I just wipe out the new ones with my oil pressure? For now got rid of both and have a mechanical auto gauge sitting on the floor till I figure out what to do.
Are there higher rated factory sensors that will handle up to 80 psi?

Diesel squares had an 80 PSI gauge and matching sender

 

[75Monza]

Cool, thanks for the info. Would rather keep instrument cluster stock looking, been down the road of modifying my 71 GMC with Tach and aftermarket gauges...what a pain, although looked pretty good when done.

 

[chengny]

Are there higher rated factory sensors that will handle up to 80 psi?

Yeah, they are out there - as Jake suggests they were used in diesel applications. But they were also OEM equipment for Corvettes and several other GM vehicles with gas engines.

Finding them takes a bit of patience and a lot of time on google/ebay. I say "them" because you can't use an 80# sender to drive a 60# indicator - so you will need an 80 pound gauge as well.

My engine is fairly tight and at start-up - in cold ambient conditions - the oil pressure pegs out high on a 60 # gauge. Even at operating temperature it will still read about 50#. And since I like my gauges to read in the middle of the total range, I recently bought both those parts.

Search using the following GM part numbers:

Sender P/N - 14040816, 06462137, 14039612, 10030966
Gauge P/N - 25025157

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There are a lot of people selling 60 psi senders as 80 psi - so before you buy, make sure one of the flats on the nipple is embossed like this:

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Just as a guide, I paid $20 for the gauge and maybe $25 for the sender, but I had no big rush and am wicked cheap so I searched for a long time for a good price.

BTW - the oil pressure switch you are looking for doesn't exist. They are all set to close at 10 psi. I have no idea what pressure the casing is made to withstand.