low oil pressure

[Newlogics]

Ok, here's what's happening:

When car's idling cold, oil pressure is a bit over the center mark, but when car warms up, oil drops to just a bit higher than lowest mark (idle). When driving normally, pressure does get above center mark again, but no matter how hard you push it, if doesn't get even half way between center and next mark to the right.

Is this normal ?

Car also sounds like a bulldozer when started cold, and keeps sounding like that way into operational temps (it quets down after some driving or idling for a while) is that oil-related ?

 

[Newlogics]

Guys ! Help !
I don't want to drive my engine into a grave !

 

[Silent2g]

what oil are you using,
have you checked the level?
how many miles?
oil pressure will always be higher when its cold, the oil is thicker then. it will drop when the motor gets warmer. its justt eh nature of oil and viscosity in general.
what oil filer?

 

[Newlogics]

I'm using Castrol GTX 10W-40 and the situation I described has happened with every oil and filter I tried.
Level is fine.

I'm worried that with such a low pressure at idle, there may not be enough oil for lubrication going around.

as I described, on warmed up idle oil level is about 1/8" above lowest mark.

 

[G-Ell]

Both my DSM's have done the same thing (well, neither sounded like a bulldozer). On the black one, I replaced everything from the oil pressure sender to the gauge in the cab. Oil pressure was still reading pretty low... Hooked a mechanical gauge to it and it read 90psi (normal) so I didn't let it bother me.