Low Oil PSI???

[spendone]

For the last week or so Ive been having low oil pressure. The pressure used to sit at 25 psi, but its been at about 12-13 pounds. My oil light flashes everytime I hit the brakes or throw it in neutral. I know I have read that 12-13 psi is ok but the problem is that the damn light flashes. I just dont trust it. Any in sight on this would help. Im getting about 75-90 psi on WOT if that helps any.

 

[Defiant]

Replace the sender for the idiot light.

 

[spendone]

I have a autometer oil psi guage, I know I have it tapped where the factory sending unit was, so the guage on my cluster currently doesnt work. The sending unit for the dummy light is the one right of that spot if your looking straight at it, am I correct???

 

[GSXanimal]

Its the one that sticks out towards the front of the car, the gauge one is the barrel shaped one that screws in from the bottom. Hope that makes sense.

 

[spendone]

I know its been awhile, I changed the idiot light sensor but my light still comes on...any insights would be greatly appreciated.

 

[spendone]

Sorry to bring this back up but I am still having this issue. My Autometer Oil PSI guage reads only about 8-9 psi at idle. It just bugs me when the oil light flickers and stays on.

 

[TimG]

I don't want to scare you but it may just be that your oil pump is dying. How many miles or kms on your car?

Either way, mind as well do oil pump (with balance shafts gone), water pump and timing belt replacement all at once.

If your idiot light comes on in sequence with your gauge reading lower numbers, maybe its because it isn't doing it's job.

Another easy fix possibilty could be your oil pressure regulator spring is weakened. Take it out, and see if it's damaged. If not, put a coupler flat washers in it's housing so that it tensens the spring and more oil goes to your engine, and no back to your crankcase.

 

[spendone]

I have 119,000 miles on the car. I am looking to do the timing belt in about 2 weeks. Any sites with high proformance oil pumps???

 

[prostreetdsmx1]

we have used some aftermarket (high performance) oil pumps in the past and they both failed. stick to the stock one. Normally in this situation we replace the oil gauges sender and it has always fixed the problem. keep in mind you may have a gunk build up in the engine, we have seen it before.

 

[Defiant]

I think I tried telling them that at the start of this thread. Perhaps they'll hear it when you say so.

 

[prostreetdsmx1]

I think I tried telling them that at the start of this thread. Perhaps they'll hear it when you say so.

i was just reaffirming what you said.

 

[spendone]

Sending unit has been chaged with one from autozone and also mitsu. themselves. Still no luck in that sense. My oil is just drastically low pressured and I'm just trying to find the cause of this. Thanks for the help though.

 

[Defiant]

You have two senders- one for the light and another for the needle. You replaced the one for the light, and the light's still coming on at idle?

 

[johnk]

Says you have a 90 so I'll assume you have the front mount oil cooler on your car. Check to make sure you didnt hit any...animals or what not. I hit a rabbit and the damn things skull crushed the line on the bottom. Dropped my oil pressure alot even though there is a bypass valve for the cooler.

 

[spendone]

Yea Defiant, I changed the sender to the light. The lines to my oil cooler seem to be ok.

 

[johnk]

Do your lifters tick more then they use to? Thats a good sign your motor isn't getting the pressure it needs. I checked in the Shop Manual and it says 11.5 PSI is good idle pressure. Assuming you don't have idle surge and you have it set around 750 you should be getting 11.5 PSI

 

[spendone]

Yea it ticks like crazy, Any suggestions of where to get an oil pump for cheap???

 

[johnk]

I changed my post cause I'm dumb...doh I saw an oil pump on www.diamondstarmotorsports.com for 175 I think (case, gears, seals). I was just looking for one cause my buddy won't let me put my new turbo in. He's convinced my pump is bad. Just parania I say but I'm waiting for a oil pressure gauge to prove one way or the other.

If your motor is ticking it's most likely those pesky lifters. You can get those at the same website one of the better prices I seen on them so far. Or you can try the MCCC/Seafoam engine cleaner stuff you burn through the intake. Makes an nice smog for your neighborhood. Some have had luck with it but I guess mine are too gummed up. More annoying then the noise I get tons of Knock counts at low RPMs. They are lower now that I have done the Seafoam but not enough to save my timing from being retarded.

A tip if you try the seafoam. Close your windows and put your ac with the recirculate air on that way your radiator fans will run and your car wont suck the smog in making your interior stink like a some fresh LA air. I turned my BISS out to make it a one man project the idle stayed high enough to do the job alone. It also showed me I had some exhaust leaks under the hood to track down.

 

[spendone]

Thanks alot for you comments. My idle is set at 750, and of course it idle surges, what DSM doesnt?? My oil pressure gauge reads about 8-9 psi, so I guess its the pump. Id rather get it fixed than to have something else go on me, like my head

 

[johnk]

So it's dropped a few more PSI since you originally posted this thread?

 

[spendone]

Yes that is correct, that is the reasoning why I brought it back from the dead.

 

[FourGdrvr]

Do your lifters tick more then they use to? Thats a good sign your motor isn't getting the pressure it needs. I checked in the Shop Manual and it says 11.5 PSI is good idle pressure. Assuming you don't have idle surge and you have it set around 750 you should be getting 11.5 PSI

That is rated with oil temp of 180-190F. Usually the car will see higher oil temps. That will affect the oil pressure. I have about 8-9 psi base oil pressure. When idle dips, oil pressure goes lower for a second. Decided not to care anymore, but only to make sure i have enough oil since a rebuilt motor is done w/ new oil pump. But the motor is still healthy w/ this pressure.

Its somewhat common for dsm's to have low oil pressures, but if you want to raise the oil pressure, some of the things you can do are make sure you have enough oil (of course), try running thicker/different oil ex.20w50, run smaller oil filter (90 dsm oil filter is the biggest, 91-99dsm mid size, and evo oil filters are smallest - for clearance issues on evo). All will fit w/ no prob. If these fail to squeeze additional psi to get it where you want it to, then change the oil pump cover w/ new gears. You can also eliminate the balance shaft, and it will raise the oil pressure.

Changing the oil pump/eliminating balanceshaft is a pain. If you are doing the labor, that should save you a lot of money, but you will spend a lot of time w/ your car. Good luck.