The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 216 oil pressure gauge on a 261

Will 216 oil pressure gauge work with a 261 engine? Will it read full peg all the time? Gauge reads 0-15-30 currently, with needle hovering around 15 being normal for the 216.

Hopefully 261 will also raise the needle halfway during normal operation. The numbers might be wrong but I can live with that as long as it doesn't destroy the gauge. Is there some kind of reducer that needs to be used?

No such thing as a pressure reducer. There's oil being sent at full engine pressure to the gauge. You can get a later gauge that's a 0-30-60. Link I think some vendors have the individual gauge to put in your cluster.
Or you can see if your original works and doesn't go full scale. Doubtful if it will hurt the gauge unless it's REALLY high pressure being sent to it.

Individual 0-60 gauge Link

Skooter -- I faced that issue when I upgraded to a 261. The original pressure gauge didn't get damaged, it just pegged out all the time, so it was essentially useless. I did the oil pressure gauge swap swap (retained my original cluster, just swapped out the gauge) and it is working great -- I get actual data from the gauge now. I recommend it. Multiple vendors sell it. I think I got mine form Jim Carter Antique Truck Parts -- a long time supporter of this web site

What is the operating oil pressure supposed to be in a 261?

Donor truck indicates 30 at mid gauge.

If one needs higher pressure gauge, GMC have up to 80 psi on gauge, otherwise look same as Chevy gauge!

Ed

I hooked my original 1946 gauge to the top center of the head on my 1962 235, there was a 1/8" pipe thread there. It works perfectly. Holds right in the center at 15 PSI once it warms up. Then I used a after market gauge that is feed from the block and mounted under the dash that reads 40 PSI.

Skooter My 235 keeps my 30 lb. gauge 1951 pegged full time, have done others over the years didn't seem to hurt em.

Based on above comments, if 30 is a normal midrange for a pressure oiler (slightly lower when hot), then a 0-15-30 gauge should still be useful to show dangerously low pressure, correct? So it's still doing its job in that respect. As long as there's no harm to the gauge.

I have installed too many to count 235s in place of 216s and never changed the gauge.
None of my customers ever had a problem.

I also replaced a 216 with a used 235 that I paid 75 dollars for 45 years ago and hooked up the original gauge, and it stayed buried with no problem. But it is nice to know what the oil pressure is on a rebuilt motor.

I have a high pressure 235, '53 engine (originally came with a Powerglide in my '50 with a 30# gauge. It stays pegged while the engine is cold or is going down the road. Once it is warmed up and at idle the needle holds halfway between the 15 and the 30# marks.
I am good with that. I don't care what the actual maximum oil pressure happens to be. All I care about is what the minimum oil pressure is.

That's why I asked what the normal operating pressure was for a 261. Since it's 30psi, who cares if the needle is pegged all the time? Why waste time and money changing the gauge?

If the oil pressure gauge of a late model engine of any kind gets low enough to show anything but full scale on a spray-oiler gauge, it's time to break out the wrenches and find out where the oil is going. John's freshly installed "low mileage" 261 was showing less than 15 PSI at cruise speed when I started watching the gauge and listening to the engine during a short road trip at a homecoming event a few years ago. That engine had two cracked pistons and a rod bearing a hair's breadth from a parts-slinging catastrophic failure!
Jerry

SSkooter Mine does it every day doesn't seem to hurt it.

Skooter Yes that will work,if the gauge drops really low you know there is trouble,I like pre 68 dave have done several no problem.