Predator Unleashed the power (!) but.......
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 105
Likes: 4
From: Riverside CA
Predator Unleashed the power (!) but.......
I just installed the predator I received today and it really made a nice difference which I feel was worth the money, but there's one small glitch. The oil gauge now always shows maximum value once the engine is running, and doesn't read accurately anymore. Once the engine is turned off, the oil gauge again returns to zero, but once it's restarted it goes to maximum and stays there. The directions did say that during the perfomnance tune installation that the gauges might sweep back and forth and other signals might sound, but not to worry, that's normal, so I wasn't too concerned when I first saw it maxed out during the installation. Is there a fix for this???? Or did I blow my oil gauge?
Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 601
Likes: 1
From: Wa
Originally Posted by Gene Wolf
I just installed the predator I received today and it really made a nice difference which I feel was worth the money, but there's one small glitch. The oil gauge now always shows maximum value once the engine is running, and doesn't read accurately anymore. Once the engine is turned off, the oil gauge again returns to zero, but once it's restarted it goes to maximum and stays there. The directions did say that during the perfomnance tune installation that the gauges might sweep back and forth and other signals might sound, but not to worry, that's normal, so I wasn't too concerned when I first saw it maxed out during the installation. Is there a fix for this???? Or did I blow my oil gauge?
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 249
From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Strange coincidence but I had my gauge go too. You have to remove the intake manifold to change the sensor. Actually, this is really a poor engineering decision where the sensor is located. On distributor equipped small block V-8's the sensor is located next to the distributor. On the LS motors we know there is no distributor, but they kept the switch in the same location. For accessiblity reasons, I have no idea why they didn't relocate the sensor making it easier to repair. It would save them service money since most people aren't going to do the repair themself.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,116
Likes: 0
From: Alhambra Calismognazifornia, in the country everyone comes just to complain but won't go back home!
pure coincidence....look at the reading in the DIC, it'll show 134psi...mine just went out on me on this past saturday while driving to vegas. you can bet that made me more than a little nervous out in the middle of the desert in 110 degree heat! 
Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 601
Likes: 1
From: Wa
Originally Posted by striper
Strange coincidence but I had my gauge go too. You have to remove the intake manifold to change the sensor. Actually, this is really a poor engineering decision where the sensor is located. On distributor equipped small block V-8's the sensor is located next to the distributor. On the LS motors we know there is no distributor, but they kept the switch in the same location. For accessiblity reasons, I have no idea why they didn't relocate the sensor making it easier to repair. It would save them service money since most people aren't going to do the repair themself.
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Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
there is a C5 tech tip by Evil_Twin on replacing the oil pressure sensor and an excellent how to with photos by Vectorz.
here is a thread from yesterday where I posted the link
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ressure+sensor
here is a thread from yesterday where I posted the link
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ressure+sensor
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
Originally Posted by Gene Wolf
So it's definitely not related to the predator tune? I don't suppose that I could uninstall and reinstall the performance tune and see if that might correct it???
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,116
Likes: 0
From: Alhambra Calismognazifornia, in the country everyone comes just to complain but won't go back home!
Originally Posted by Gene Wolf
So it's definitely not related to the predator tune? I don't suppose that I could uninstall and reinstall the performance tune and see if that might correct it???
but, if it'll give you peace of mind, go ahead and turn back the tune. your stock tune is stored in the Predator's memory. Just plug it in and tell it to return to stock tune. once you're satisfied that that the meter is still pegged, reflash the performance tune and get to work replacing the bad sending unit.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 105
Likes: 4
From: Riverside CA
Looking at the great link to the tech tip on how to r&r the sending unit, it doesn't look too hard. I am tempted to try and just slide the manifold forward a few inches as some have done and thereby reach the sending unit, but I'm worried about accidentally dumping some gravel or other debris on the manifold/head surfaces into the intake ports of the heads. Also, when sliding the manifold back into place some small particles (or not so small) might get trapped between the intake manifold gasket and the head surface, thereby causing an air leak. Very bad for business, as I recall from an engine rebuilding class I took at community college in the 70s.....
Is that a rubber gasket I see in the photos of the intake manifold??? Therefore reusable?
Is that a rubber gasket I see in the photos of the intake manifold??? Therefore reusable?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 105
Likes: 4
From: Riverside CA
Looking at the great link to the tech tip on how to r&r the sending unit, it doesn't look too hard. I am tempted to try and just slide the manifold forward a few inches as some have done and thereby reach the sending unit, but I'm worried about accidentally dumping some gravel or other debris on the manifold/head surfaces into the intake ports of the heads. Also, when sliding the manifold back into place some small particles (or not so small) might get trapped between the intake manifold gasket and the head surface, thereby causing an air leak. Very bad for business, as I recall from an engine rebuilding class I took at community college in the 70s.....
Is that a rubber gasket I see in the photos of the intake manifold??? Therefore reusable?
Is that a rubber gasket I see in the photos of the intake manifold??? Therefore reusable?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,116
Likes: 0
From: Alhambra Calismognazifornia, in the country everyone comes just to complain but won't go back home!
[QUOTE=Gene Wolf]...but I'm worried about accidentally dumping some gravel or other debris on the manifold/head surfaces into the intake ports of the heads. Also, when sliding the manifold back into place some small particles (or not so small) might get trapped between the intake manifold gasket and the head surface, thereby causing an air leak. Very bad for business, as I recall from an engine rebuilding class I took at community college in the 70s.....QUOTE]
aha! now we're on the same page
i was just looking over the how-to write-up last night myself (since mine needs changing too) and was wondering the exact same thing!
aha! now we're on the same page
i was just looking over the how-to write-up last night myself (since mine needs changing too) and was wondering the exact same thing!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 105
Likes: 4
From: Riverside CA
Looking at the great link to the tech tip on how to r&r the sending unit, it doesn't look too hard. I am tempted to try and just slide the manifold forward a few inches as some have done and thereby reach the sending unit, but I'm worried about accidentally dumping some gravel or other debris on the manifold/head surfaces into the intake ports of the heads. Also, when sliding the manifold back into place some small particles (or not so small) might get trapped between the intake manifold gasket and the head surface, thereby causing an air leak. Very bad for business, as I recall from an engine rebuilding class I took at community college in the 70s.....
Is that a rubber gasket I see in the photos of the intake manifold??? Therefore reusable?
Is that a rubber gasket I see in the photos of the intake manifold??? Therefore reusable?
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 1
From: Littleton Colorado
Yes, the intake gasket is reusable. Its not really a hard job at all, I still like to have the intake out of the way to get to the sensor. Pay attention to the tourqe setting, your current wrench may not go that low and people swear that it has to be the right tourque or it will fail quickly. Also, I've heard that the borg warner brand of the sensor is better than the delco. Its easy to find, got mine at NAPA and its already lasted 3 times as long as the delco unit (which is only a few weeks)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,116
Likes: 0
From: Alhambra Calismognazifornia, in the country everyone comes just to complain but won't go back home!
would blowing off the engine with a compressor hose be sufficient, or should you wash down the engine to get all the grime and stuff out of the area before pulling the intake? 
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 105
Likes: 4
From: Riverside CA
I'm leaning towards the 'ol air compressor and vacuum combination where the vacuum is right there to suck up the debris the compressed air kicks up.... Just paranoid about grit around internal engine parts!
