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"steamed up" oil pressure gage

Discussion in '1965-1970 Shelby Mustang GT350 & GT500' started by GT52, Apr 10, 2006.

  1. Apr 10, 2006 #1
    GT52

    GT52 Active Member

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    The original Stewart Warner oil pressure gage in my KR "steams up" with what is obviously water vapor when the car is driven...not so bad you can't see thru the glass, but bad enough to be noticeable. Anyone else seen this??? know what causes it??? know how to fix it???
     
    GT52, Apr 10, 2006
    GT52, Apr 10, 2006
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  2. Apr 11, 2006 #2
    TLEA

    TLEA Well-Known Member

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    Thats interesting because its not really a sealed unit. I'm assuming its an original guage. The originals came from SW's marine line so they were designed to run in damp conditions. The only way water (moisture) can get in there is thru the lamp socket. Are you in high humidity?
    Tim
     
    TLEA, Apr 11, 2006
    TLEA, Apr 11, 2006
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  3. Apr 11, 2006 #3
    GT52

    GT52 Active Member

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    Yea, extremely high humidity...I live north of San Francisco and less than 1/2 mile from the ocean. I know that contributes, but it seems to do it even mid-summer on sunny days??? It is the original S-W gage.
     
    GT52, Apr 11, 2006
    GT52, Apr 11, 2006
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  4. Apr 11, 2006 #4
    TLEA

    TLEA Well-Known Member

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    There could be a film of some foreign material on inside of lens. Problem is the guages (at this point) are not servicable. I am looking into having repro bezels and crimping press made so guages can be cleaned and faces rescreened. If I get enough interest I may do it. I have about 2 dozen original guages most of which have faded faces.
    Tim
     
    TLEA, Apr 11, 2006
    TLEA, Apr 11, 2006
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  5. Apr 11, 2006 #5
    GT52

    GT52 Active Member

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    TLEA, that film's an interesting theory. I didn't add originally that the alternator gage, which appears to have near identical construction, does not "steam up". I wonder (out loud) if I could "wash" the gage out with something like an electrical contact cleaner without damaging it???
     
    GT52, Apr 11, 2006
    GT52, Apr 11, 2006
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  6. Apr 11, 2006 #6
    TLEA

    TLEA Well-Known Member

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    I'd be worried about the cleaner discoloring the face. Oil guages are hard to come by. I pickup about 10 Alt guages to every oil guage. I have removed/reinstalled bezels with some success but it isn't perfect.
    Tim
     
    TLEA, Apr 11, 2006
    TLEA, Apr 11, 2006
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  7. Apr 13, 2006 #7
    d_ford

    d_ford Well-Known Member

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    GT52.....I can't help answer why, but the oil pressure guage on my old 67 GT500 did the same thing. In the underdash guage unit the oil pressure guage steamed up but the ammeter was fine. It must be because it's a mechanical guage and warm oil goes into the line supplying it. The warmth from the oil coupled with high humidity must be the cause for steam. I even tried baking it out in a low temp oven but it would always come back.
     
    d_ford, Apr 13, 2006
    d_ford, Apr 13, 2006
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  8. Apr 13, 2006 #8
    TLEA

    TLEA Well-Known Member

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    68 Greenlines are electric.
    Tim
     
    TLEA, Apr 13, 2006
    TLEA, Apr 13, 2006
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