High/low and otherwise scary oil pressure [Merged 3-9]

[Bluefire16]

Ok so ive read a number of different threads but have not come up with much. I have checked my connection to my pressure regulator and the switch. I have connected it and disconnected it, talked to 3 different people. One is currently attending a mechanic school, the other works at a quick lube, and lastly another is a respected dsm member with 3 different dsm's with 450whp each. I have spoken to all of them and have not come up with much, here are the pics. THe first one, oil pressure when car is warm and just sitting and idling. THe second is on the highway going 70mph. It drops soon as im off the gas. I understand my oil pressure should not be this high, any reasons why?
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[Nvisabl]

If you are talking 100psi at start- up that is normal sounds to me like your ok if you tickle 100psi once OIL is warm (not water temp) and I mean when you are way up in RPM. I see no problem there. One of our cars pegs the 100psi gauge at start-up once oil temp comes up idles around 25psi and cruises at 50-60psi.

 

[my1997gsx]

Other than the occasional 100 psi at high RPM your oil presser is pretty normal.
I would also make sure that you have no exposed wires or spots where the gauge wires could be grounding out that will make the gauge read 100+ or max the guage out.

 

[95GreenGSX]

Does your 6 bolt still have balance shafts?? If not, that can easiy cause high oil pressures. Common fix for such a problem would be to port your oil pressure relief valve.

Yeah, it does. The motor is 100% stock. Could the valve be cloged?

If you are talking 100psi at start- up that is normal sounds to me like your ok if you tickle 100psi once OIL is warm (not water temp) and I mean when you are way up in RPM. I see no problem there. One of our cars pegs the 100psi gauge at start-up once oil temp comes up idles around 25psi and cruises at 50-60psi.

Yeah, its around 100 psi at start up...or almost at that. When I was at operating temp, it would go to 90s maybe 100 if I was at WOT. Sometimes I could just rev it and it would go that high.

Other than the occasional 100 psi at high RPM your oil presser is pretty normal.
I would also make sure that you have no exposed wires or spots where the gauge wires could be grounding out that will make the gauge read 100+ or max the guage out.

I just installed it today, I made sure that all of my wires were heat shrinked or spliced together good. It doesnt randomly go to 100 psi, only at colder temps or WOT at high RPM.

 

[lccynmbr13]

Several possible causes come to mind. Poor engine condition, worn oil pump, oil too thin, idle too low, or possibly your oil pick up is partially blocked. Listed in no particular order. Some warrant greater possibility than others..

Everything you said is relative to low oil pressure. This guy thinks he's having high oil pressure problems. Lets not post if we don't know what we're talking about.

 

[crhonda355]

faulty gauge wiring?
wouldn't you want to install a mechanical gauge for a secondary oil pressure gauge?

 

[95GreenGSX]

faulty gauge wiring?
wouldn't you want to install a mechanical gauge for a secondary oil pressure gauge?

Why would you want to have two oilpressure gauges? Plus I got an electric oil pressure gauge so I didn't have to run oil into the car.

 

[kawboy]

Definetly nothing to worry about..

 

[mitsumikey]

my mechanical oil pressure guage exploded, and not at the fittings,I no longer want to run one either

 

[mochilli]

How many other people have had their stock oil pressure gauge fail on them ?

 

[k2crasher]

I doubt your pressure relief valve would be clogged. On your aftermarket electrical gauge, how old is it and is the sender mounted right on the oil filter housing or did you remote mount it? I know the vibration of the engine can cause the sending unit to go bad.

 

[95GreenGSX]

My gauge is brand new. It's autometer electric oil pressure gauge. The sending unit is mounted in place of the stock one. I wanted the remote mount but didn't have time to get it.

 

[rconlon67]

Guys,
Need some help.

Background:
Profile up to date with modifications. Motor is rebuilt(about 100 miles ago), 2.3L, /w BSEK. I did not have a mechanical oil pressure gauge setup when I first started the car, and I had a pretty serious oil leak develop behind the front case, within 20-25 miles. I had used all new parts and gaskets so I wanted to figure out why it was leaking before I took it apart. I did some reading and I read about high oil pressure(especially after BSEK). So I bought a mechanical oil pressure gauge and hooked it up to the oil filter housing. The gauge was reading 100psi @ start up, once warmed up it would idle around 35-40 PSI and would shoot up from there once the gas pedal was pressed.
Since that time I have replaces the front case with a brand new OEM Front case and Gasket. I have ported the oil pressure relief hole as far as I can, and I just put on a new oil filter and did an oil change. The car now is better, but still high. The oil pressure shoots up to 60 at startup, and sits at 22-27 psi @ idle once fully warmed up.
I would like to know if there are any other things I can look into to try an reduce the oil pressure before I go driving around and blow out another front case(THE REPLACMENT JOB IS HELLA LAME!!)
Thanks for any suggestions or comments, and sorry this is so long.

~RyNo

 

[project_tsi]

My car had about 90 psi at startup, and 120 on very cold 35* startup. I was fortunate enough to not have any major leaks though.

What viscosity oil are you running? A thinner weight oil can help slightly.

Also, if your running a 1990 air oil cooler, you can upgrade to a larger cooler, and -10 or even -12an lines. The larger lines will help relieve some pressure.

You can also shim the bolt with the spring in the oil cooler, or cut the spring down slightly, or even others have had success using an old spring from another housing. Some say the NT springs are not as stiff, but I can't confirm this myself.

 

[Defiant]

Where did you guys imagine a connection between the PCV valve and oil pressure? There is none. Your PCV will not have an effect on oil pressure.

 

[chadnum1]

Yes its normal. Oil pump flows according to rpm. Faster you go more oil pressure you have, and no you dont need more oil due to bigger turbo and mods unless youve added an aftermarket oil cooler.

 

[talontsiboy24]

Yes its normal. Oil pump flows according to rpm. Faster you go more oil pressure you have, and no you dont need more oil due to bigger turbo and mods unless youve added an aftermarket oil cooler.

it has a b&m trans cooler and oil catch can but no oil cooler so i should just fill it to the full mark right?

 

[chadnum1]

Yes trans cooler uses tranny fluid not oil and your catch can is for blowby from the motor. It is goin to hold the stock amount of oil. About 4.5 qts. Fill to the full line.

 

[badabing33a]

My oil psi gauge read normal for about 5 mins and slowly dropped. This was about a week ago. Now, it says i have no oil psi at anytime. Could it be the oil psi feedback? The car sounds and runs fine. Except for low idling and once in a great while it will stall at a stop sign. Any ideas?

 

[aaronhawk60]

I had a 93 eagle that did the same thing it started out fine then would drop to almost 0 after driving for a while and it just got worse ended up being a spun main bearing. Try pulling the pan and looking at the bearings it will be obvious if they have spun.

 

[chadnum1]

Easiest thing first. Check to see if your wire going to the sending unit has come off.

 

[BoostedTT91]

your gonna have alittle higher oil pressure than usual with the balance shaft eliminated since your blocking off 3 of the oil ports.
how much did u port the relief valve opening? maybe u didnt port it out enough

 

[rbwtrans]

Be sure that the valve still moves in the bore. If it doesn't move then it will not by-pass (or relieve) the oil pressure.

 

[DSM1G90]

..and to add: take the wire off the sending unit and take a jumper wire and connect it to the clip and the other end to ground and turn on the key. Needle should swing all the way up showing that the gauge works.

What weight oil are you using? Better not be 5w/30 in that block - too thin. 10w/30 is the lowest you should be using. 15w/40 or 20w/50 would be better.

 

[badabing33a]

My oil psi gauge read normal for about 5 mins and slowly dropped. This was about a week ago. Now, it says i have no oil psi at anytime. Could it be the oil psi feedback? The car sounds and runs fine. Except for low idling and once in a great while it will stall at a stop sign. Any ideas?

I still have my ballance shafts and everything. Right now, my exhaust is off so maybe the vibration is the reason. How can i tell if its a spun bearing? What wire do i check? And should there be any knocking if i spun a bearing? I have a OEM oil psi gauge. Right now the needle barely comes off (what would be) the "0 psi" mark. No signs of running abnormal besides low idle and once in a great while, it will stall at a stop sign. There also might be a SLIGHT ticking or knocking thats been there basically since i bought the car. Hopefully its the wire and nothing inside the engine.

 

[98gsxtuner]

Ok guys, I went outside to look at my turbo and i decided to check my oil since my gauge has been pegged. Well when i checked my oil it read like a half an inch above the full mark on the dipstick maybe a lil higher, it wasnt reading like this a couple of weeks ago so what could it be? Now with my gauge it was reading funny after i installed my ssautochrome FMIC and i kept an eye on the oil since the gauge was jacked well now the gauge is pegged even when i dont have my foot on the pedal and even if i have it in neutral and I'm just rolling down the street,however it reads in the middle of the gauge if it is parked. So im just wanting to know what i could do to fix this problem and im assuming i should quit driving ASAP!