JPI 350 - Using a VDO Oil Pressure Sender Instead

[jneves]

Randomly thought I'd ask the knowledge base on VAF.

I recently purchased a JPI EDM-350 with full capabilities, but only added RPM sensor to the 4 CHT and EGT probes that come with it. This gets me the wire harness for CHT/EGT as well as the one for RPM, MAP, and Oil pressure. I would not mind bringing over MAP and Oil-P to the EDM, but would rather not spend $270 for the JPI Oil-Pressure sensor.

My current Oil-P is taken on a 20 year old mechanical gauge that is fed from an off the shelf VDO sender (the $40 kind you can get at any auto parts store). These are tried and true senders with years of use.

My question (because JPI says no to everything)...
- Has anyone used any non JPI sensors with any success? Oil-P is what I'm interested in now, but any input on any sensors would be great since that will open up the possibility of expanding the JPI use and removing more of the analog gauges from the panel at a much lower cost.

[Cumulo]

This may be helpful
I looked at the on-line manual for your monitor.
From that it looks like the type of oil pressure sender/transducer the EDM-350 uses is 5 Volt solid state of a common sort. So an old style auto resistance type is not directly compatible.

However, I found several units of similar type to the factory unit that might work quite well.

There are several listed by various vendors on Amazon. Here is one:
https://www.amazon.com/AUTEX-Pressur...dp/B00NIK98O8/

This one is rated for 125 deg C as are the others listed that provide that spec.
The install manual shows the oil sender mounted away from the engine and connected by hose - to reduce the heat the unit is subjected to, I assume.

Since these sensors are available, accurate, reliable, cheap, and easy to interface to glass, I wonder why your post was not swimming with responses? I'll await the avalanche of real experience reports.

Ron

[blaplante]

Did JPI change the type of oil pressure sender between the EDM 730 and the 350? The 730 uses a standard resistive sender. You can PM me for the details.

[Cumulo]

Originally Posted by blaplante

Did JPI change the type of oil pressure sender between the EDM 730 and the 350? The 730 uses a standard resistive sender. You can PM me for the details.

Yep, looks like it. The on-line install for the 730 shows the resistive can type with 2 connection posts, while the 350 is a 3 wire connector with 5 volts, ground and output.
Ron

[blaplante]

Huh. At https://www.jpinstruments.com/wp-con...06-2017jfp.pdf
Page 12, it says "sensor 2 wire VDO"

[Cumulo]

Originally Posted by blaplante

Huh. At https://www.jpinstruments.com/wp-con...06-2017jfp.pdf
Page 12, it says "sensor 2 wire VDO"

Well, looks like they have made a change. The doc for the 350 on their website is updated to 2021 and shows a solid state 3 wire oil pressure sensor..

https://www.jpinstruments.com/wp-con...7-10-21Joe.pdf

So, obviously two versions.

Would have to do some research to know what will work with what.

Ron

[jneves]

Very delayed in reply, sorry had to table some of this. I check my unit and I only have 2 wires labeled Oil P coming from the harness that came with the JPI 350. So I guess there are 2 options, but harness wise I have the older 2 wire VDO.

I'll pick up a VDO and hook it up to see what I get.

[SwampRat]

So this is interesting. I posted sort of a similar post yesterday about fuel quantity and fuel pressure, but I can answer this for you...sort of. TBH I read your post yesterday, but not carefully enough. Sorry about that.

I purchased and installed my EDM 350 in 2018. At that time I installed CHT and EGT (of course) but I also installed oil temp and oil pressure. I purchased both the temp and pressure senders from JPI (and I probably paid $270). The pressure sender was, I am sure, a 2 wire and I am also pretty sure it was VDO. The sender terminals were screw type and I recall simply crimping ring terminals. Naturally I took a number of pics of the entire installation and, also naturally, I did not take a picture of the pressure sender.

I am running out today to do some work on the EDM and quite conveniently, the top cowl is off. So later today I will follow up this post with a pic and as much information as I can gather for you.

It would be interesting to know why JPI decided that the old VDO oil pressure sender isn't good enough any more. In 3 years and 200 hours, it's worked spectacularly well in the -4.

[jneves]

Thanks Nick! Any info would be appreciated. I picked up a VDO from Amazon and it arrives Monday. Depending on your findings I may install completely or just hook it up and simulate some lite pressure to see what comes of it. My hope is that it will work and I can save a few bucks, if this holds true for temps options I’ll be delighted.

Heading for a trip up the coast today! Weather on the west coast has been GREAT the last few weeks.

Thank you again for the reply. I’m hoping by the time I get through the rest of the sensors I’m able to build a list of alternate sensors and share them here with all to use as they see fit.

[SwampRat]

You bet! I hope this will help. Yes, it is a VDO but I couldn't find a VDO part number (I actually peeled off the label but there was nothing underneath and there were no part numbers that I could find anywhere on the sender. That was interesting!

So I did what I could and snapped a couple of pics hoping it would help. The oil pressure is good for 0-150. It is two wire. Here you go. Sorry I couldn't find more info for you!