Leaking oil low oil pressure switch - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

Don in VT · 06-22-2012

Hi All,

Had a massive oil leak that is now 90% fixed. The pan gasket job went very well and the pan is clean inside and the gasket is tight with no leaks. Now we find that there is still s small leak that turns our to be the low oil pressure switch located under the oil filter housing. FSM says that the coolant must be drained. to pull the filter housing, Is this really true ?. I am sure many of the members have replaced the leaking switch and perhaps I could get some real world tips on this fix.

Best Regards,

Don

Paul Workman · 06-22-2012

Don,

I agree with the coolant draining - not much, just enough to remove the cross-over pipe, as the oil filter housing needs to come off to change that low oil pressure SOB. 3-4 bolts and the housing comes right off, no big deal.

The oil cooler lines...may not have to come off, tho I did remove them too - perhaps I could have done it w/o removing the lines? (You'll have to see and get back to us!

)

Jerry has a new oil flter housing gasket, if you need one, or if the gasket is intact, a smear of the Permatex (powder blue color) RTV will do the sealing, after getting the housing and the gasket surface clean and dry.

P.

Don in VT · 06-22-2012

Hi Paul,

Thanks for the reply. I have to make another plenum dive so I would drain a little coolant anyway. Do I need any special tool to remove the switch ? I have a great specialty tool that is made for O2 sensors that might be handy.

I have already ordered the gasket from Jerry and I am prepared for the new experience.

Your process sure beats the FSM approach so thanks again for the help.

Best Regards,

Don

Tyler Townsley · 06-22-2012

Can be done without pulling the filter housing. Use a stubby skt with a socket for a sensor.

Tyler

Don in VT · 06-22-2012

Hi Tyler,

Sounds good but how do you actually get the socket in there? I can't even get my small hand in to disconnect the connector.

Cheers

Don

LGAFF · 06-22-2012

I ended up just removing the housing, its just a few bolts....

Tyler Townsley · 06-22-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don in VT

Hi Tyler,

Sounds good but how do you actually get the socket in there? I can't even get my small hand in to disconnect the connector.

Cheers

Don

It was 13 yrs ago and I have a small hand. I never even thought about removing the filter housing. Back then we had no forum and were on our own.

Tyler

Paul Workman · 06-23-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don in VT

Hi Paul,

Thanks for the reply. I have to make another plenum dive so I would drain a little coolant anyway. Do I need any special tool to remove the switch ? I have a great specialty tool that is made for O2 sensors that might be handy.

I have already ordered the gasket from Jerry and I am prepared for the new experience.

Your process sure beats the FSM approach so thanks again for the help.

Best Regards,

Don

Yes, and as I recall, I bought the special socket for removing it, but as you said, I couldn't access it to use the dang thing. The sensor socket wasn't cheap, and I ended up not using it after all. As Lee said too, once I decided to just pull the housing, that turned out to be a piece of cake way to replace it. Had the dang housing off, the switch replaced, and the new one installed in little over an hour.

And, yeah! Like Tyler said, thank heaven for this forum!

P.

Don in VT · 06-23-2012

Hi,

I want to thank everyone for the great responses. As soon as the gasket and the switch arrives I will make "getter done" as the saying goes.

Thanks again

Don

dan1495 · 06-23-2012

I am still new to these cars, but I just recently changed the oil pressure sensor you are referring to. I didn't remove the coolant pipe but kind of wish I had. I did remove the oil cooler lines from the cooler and would definitely recommend doing that. I also bought a sensor removal socket (1/16" I think) at Northern Tool for about 3 bucks. Not professional grade but it workd fine in this case.

As an aside, my sensor was leaking a little but I think the major source of the leak was that fact that one of the oil filter adapter bolts had worked loose. I have read of others having the same issue.

I admire the person that can do this job in an hour!

06-22-2012	#1
Don in VT Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Fairfax, VT Posts: 203	Leaking oil low oil pressure switch Hi All, Had a massive oil leak that is now 90% fixed. The pan gasket job went very well and the pan is clean inside and the gasket is tight with no leaks. Now we find that there is still s small leak that turns our to be the low oil pressure switch located under the oil filter housing. FSM says that the coolant must be drained. to pull the filter housing, Is this really true ?. I am sure many of the members have replaced the leaking switch and perhaps I could get some real world tips on this fix. Best Regards, Don

06-22-2012	#2
Paul Workman Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Squires (near Ava MO in the Mark Twain N'tl Forest) - Missouri Posts: 6,493	Re: Leaking oil low oil pressure switch Don, I agree with the coolant draining - not much, just enough to remove the cross-over pipe, as the oil filter housing needs to come off to change that low oil pressure SOB. 3-4 bolts and the housing comes right off, no big deal. The oil cooler lines...may not have to come off, tho I did remove them too - perhaps I could have done it w/o removing the lines? (You'll have to see and get back to us!) Jerry has a new oil flter housing gasket, if you need one, or if the gasket is intact, a smear of the Permatex (powder blue color) RTV will do the sealing, after getting the housing and the gasket surface clean and dry. P. __________________ Good carz, good food, good friendz = the best of timez! 90 #1202 "FBI" top end ported & relieved Cam timing by "Pete the Greek" Sans secondaries Chip & dyno tuning by Haibeck Automotive SW headers, X-pipe, MF muffs Former Secretary, ZR-1 Net Registry

06-22-2012	#3
Don in VT Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Fairfax, VT Posts: 203	Re: Leaking oil low oil pressure switch Hi Paul, Thanks for the reply. I have to make another plenum dive so I would drain a little coolant anyway. Do I need any special tool to remove the switch ? I have a great specialty tool that is made for O2 sensors that might be handy. I have already ordered the gasket from Jerry and I am prepared for the new experience. Your process sure beats the FSM approach so thanks again for the help. Best Regards, Don

06-22-2012	#4
Tyler Townsley Join Date: May 2005 Location: Nichols, FL Posts: 615	Re: Leaking oil low oil pressure switch Can be done without pulling the filter housing. Use a stubby skt with a socket for a sensor. Tyler __________________ 55 Polo White (Project) 61 Jewel Blue (Sold to buy above) 66 Nassau Blue 68 Torch Red 88 ZR1 Blue 90 ZR1 White

06-22-2012	#5
Don in VT Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Fairfax, VT Posts: 203	Re: Leaking oil low oil pressure switch Hi Tyler, Sounds good but how do you actually get the socket in there? I can't even get my small hand in to disconnect the connector. Cheers Don

06-22-2012	#6
LGAFF Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Crystal Lake, IL Posts: 7,194	Re: Leaking oil low oil pressure switch I ended up just removing the housing, its just a few bolts.... __________________ LGAFF 90 #966-150K miles-sold 92 #234-sold 1987 Callaway TT #17 1991 ZR-1 #1359

06-23-2012	#9
Don in VT Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Fairfax, VT Posts: 203	Re: Leaking oil low oil pressure switch Hi, I want to thank everyone for the great responses. As soon as the gasket and the switch arrives I will make "getter done" as the saying goes. Thanks again Don

06-23-2012	#10
dan1495 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Santa Fe, Texas Posts: 18	Re: Leaking oil low oil pressure switch I am still new to these cars, but I just recently changed the oil pressure sensor you are referring to. I didn't remove the coolant pipe but kind of wish I had. I did remove the oil cooler lines from the cooler and would definitely recommend doing that. I also bought a sensor removal socket (1/16" I think) at Northern Tool for about 3 bucks. Not professional grade but it workd fine in this case. As an aside, my sensor was leaking a little but I think the major source of the leak was that fact that one of the oil filter adapter bolts had worked loose. I have read of others having the same issue. I admire the person that can do this job in an hour!