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Folks - here's my first-ever question here.  I have a Zenith w/30 hrs and Garmin G3X and Rotax 912.  It came with a VDO 80 psi gauge, and it worked well for the first few months.  It was one compatible with Garmin G3X/GEA 24.  Seems to not work above 70 psi though.  Note it is the old cheapy one, and uses resistance not voltage.

Problem: The last 3 or 4 flights the pressure starts in the 50/60s at startup, but then at full power it goes 68,69 psi then RED X.  And for most of the flight I have the red X for oil pressure - which to me is dangerous.  Then when I'm landing and back on power, it starts to return with a good pressure number.  I have heard these cheapo VDO $40 gauges aren't worth crap, and that when they start to fail, they start reading high - and since I get the Red X, it tells me the high oil pressure is to high for the garmin for that particular sender.  So I'd like to switch oil pressure senders.

Here's what the Garmin G3X manual says:

The following sensors can be configured for the Oil Pressure input on the GEA 24 or GSU 73:

• Kavlico P4055-150G (0-150 PSI)      • UMA 1EU150G (0-150 PSI)      • Rotax 456180

• Rotax 956413      • Rotax 956415 (This one is no longer made and is old)     • Jabiru (VDO 360-003) This is what I have now

After some checking I see UMA is just for Lycomings/Conti's.  And for the two rotax sensors:  456180  and 956413  these require resistors and ground changes/rewiring, and wires to bus that I really don't want to undertake.  And they are like $250.  One of these even has you retap the case for new threads - I do NOT want that!

That leaves me with the question for this group - Has anyone flown a rotax with the Kavlico P4055-150G (0-150 PSI) sender?  It's compatible with Garmin G3X, but I don't know about rotax 912.  I can either buy another cheapo VDO and simply swap, or buy one of the two expensive rotax ones and take off my windshield, top panel and more just to do all that work, and hope there's no retapping - OR, maybe that Kavlico might work.  It's just really unclear in the manual.  Thanks for the help!

Bert

  • Re: Oil Pressure Senders Compatible with Garmin G3X and Rotax 912

    by » 3 years ago


    I have never worked with the Garmin GX3 but it makes sense that you should be able to go into the setup/configuration screens and match up a new sensor as well as the scaling of the device. It is usually/typically just that simple. Was your original sensor connected directly to the engine? If it was consider remote mounting the sensor to the firewall. This will isolate the sensor from the heat and vibration damage that usually comes with a direct connection, the tubing/hose for the pressure connection will allow for any fitting differences between the engine and sensor. I went thru the same type of failures about 9 years ago and remote mounting has worked perfectly saving $ on sensor replacement.


  • Re: Oil Pressure Senders Compatible with Garmin G3X and Rotax 912

    by » 3 years ago


    Any Sender that outputs 0.5 to 4.5 volts will work.
    Your Oil Pump is either 1/8npt or M10x1.
    Adapt the sender to the Oil Pump threads if needed.
    Configure the Garmin to the sender.
    The UMA sender will work on ALL engines.

    Any pressure sender will work with any fluid under pressure; Oil, Fuel, Water, Coolant, Air, etc.  It does not care.

    Do NOT Retap the Oil Pump Threads. 
    M10 to 1/8npt adapters are readily available.
    This is a common issue.

    Pick out any sender of your choice.
    They can all be made to work.


    Bill Hertzel
    Rotax 912is
    North Ridgeville, OH, USA
    Clicking the "Thank You" is Always Appreciated by Everyone.


  • Re: Oil Pressure Senders Compatible with Garmin G3X and Rotax 912

    by » 3 years ago


    Thanks Garrett and Bill!


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