Low Oil Pressure

[wishIhadaturbo]

I did look around and didn't find anything posted on this issue. I would find it hard to believe it hasn't been addressed though. So don't flame me too bad.

92 2.0 turbo 5 spd. Once the engine warms up, the oil light flickers at idle. Pressure is fine otherwise. If I keep it above 1k then the light dosen't come on. The oil has been freshly changed. Was having probs b4 that though. I haven't checked the pressure with a mechanical gauge yet. Here are my options as I see them. Tell me what you think about each one.

1. Run synthetic. Will that help ?
2. Replace the oil pump. Not cheap last time I looked.
3. Rebuild oil pump. Can it be done ?
4. Set the idle up and don't worry about it. Is that possible ?

What's your opinion.

Also what do you think is the minimum safe oil pressure at idle.

 

[teg21]

Most dsms have low oil pressure. My gauge is also low if i am cruising in 2nd my light doesn't come though. i would check it with a gauge and see what you are reading. If it isn't too low i would try synthetic see if it goes up any, probably not going to help much though. Probably doesn't help too much but it is a common problem many people ignore it or buy a new block.

 

[BoostedTalonTS]

Had the same problem with mine, minus the Oil Light coming on... First thing I did was check the oil pressure with a mechanical style pressure tester... after finding that the pressure was in fact ok (not good but OK), I went down the line... First, I replaced the spring in the Oil Pressure Bypass Valve... It's behind the 22mm "Drain Plug" (well it looks like one anyway), that's right next to the Oil Pressure Sender Unit (the can-like thing that looks like a miniature waistgate actuator with a single wire comming off of it) that's right next to the Oil filter, but behind the plastic splash guard that covers the Harmonic Balancer. After replacing the spring (since you have to take it off anyway to get to the 22mm bolt, I also replaced the Oil Pressure Sender Unit at the same time) I found that between the two, I fixed the problem and the factory guage was happy with me again. Later verrified, I even got a bit more pressure out of it... I guess that the Oil Pressure Bypass spring got tired or something.
Hope this helps.

 

[dave99gst]

my 90 n/t has done the same for years. -- the 99 only has 16psi at idle after warm up ( 60psi when you cold start it )

 

[RamenPride]

did you install an oil cooler when you turbo'ed your NT? maybe the oil is getting too hot and thinning out too much.

BoostedTalonTS: where did you find the spring to replace it with? did you just use some spring you found at the hardware store, or did you just get it from the dealer?

 

[BoostedTalonTS]

"BoostedTalonTS: where did you find the spring to replace it with? did you just use some spring you found at the hardware store, or did you just get it from the dealer?"


...Neither, I got it out of a 92GST in a Wrecking Yard (IMO) The BEST place for testing theories. It was the exact dimensions as the one I removed, however, I didn't test it in a vat of hot oil (according the the service manual, it should shrink at a certain temp). I also got the Oil Pressure Sender at the same time... turns out that my old one was just begining to leak at the top of it, I would have never know, as it wasn't even enough of a leak to drop a single drop of oil on the ground. -Solved the problem though.