Mechanical oil pressure gauges - idle accuracy

[Saturdee]

Well today I was getting a low oil pressure reading. At around 750-800 rpm (operating temp) I was seeing like 7.5 psi. I know that's low, and it should be around 11.4 or something. But I have a friend that told me that he had two mechanical gauges that did the same at idle, and then he went to an electrical gauge and the problem was resolved.

This whole low oil pressure thing is really stressing me out, and I don't want to start ripping stuff apart if it's just my gauge being inaccurate. So, does anyone on here have bad experiences with their mechanical oil pressure readings at idle?

And more specifically, I have an autometer mechanical gauge, connected to the OFH via -4 AN stainless steel line.

 

[NHerron]

If the light lights up with wire grounded, you know circuit is okay. If light dont light with key on engine off (wire plugged in of course), the oil switch is bad.

All it is is a pressure switch. No pressure against the switch will make a connection between the wire and switch body, thus grounding the wire and completing the circuit.

If you think it's the valve sticking, try running Seafoam.

 

[Saturdee]

If the light lights up with wire grounded, you know circuit is okay. If light dont light with key on engine off (wire plugged in of course), the oil switch is bad.

All it is is a pressure switch. No pressure against the switch will make a connection between the wire and switch body, thus grounding the wire and completing the circuit.

If you think it's the valve sticking, try running Seafoam.

That pressure switch you're talking about is the dumby light sensor right? Thought you said I could just turn the key over to test if it works?

 

[white92talontsi]

Cut open the oil filter if you suspect any issues.

 

[pearl4gtsi]

Just curious, but what do you gain/find out by cutting open the filter??

 

[Colt4G63 also]

Just curious, but what do you gain/find out by cutting open the filter??

You gain a greater knowledge of your engines health, by finding out if your bearings migrated into the oil filter.

 

[pearl4gtsi]

By checking to see if there's metal... Shah. Thank you

 

[Saturdee]

Cut open the oil filter if you suspect any issues.

I gave cutting it open a shot with a saw. I stopped before I got too far. Figured the metal shavings would inevitably drop into the filter, making it hard to distinguish whether or not I had metal in there from my bearings. As I said earlier though, when I drained my oil, I noticed no chunks of metal at all.

While I'm here, I guess I'll ask. Is there any way to tell if an oil pump is going bad? Any noises, sensors, etc? I heard somewhere that the oil gauge flickering is an indication?

And I just now read here http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/mai...-filter-causes-change-oil-pressure-print.html that certain oil filters can raise or lower your oil pressure (WIX vs. STP). I guess it's worth a shot.

 

[white92talontsi]

I gave cutting it open a shot with a saw. I stopped before I got too far. Figured the metal shavings would inevitably drop into the filter, making it hard to distinguish whether or not I had metal in there from my bearings. As I said earlier though, when I drained my oil, I noticed no chunks of metal at all.

While I'm here, I guess I'll ask. Is there any way to tell if an oil pump is going bad? Any noises, sensors, etc? I heard somewhere that the oil gauge flickering is an indication?

And I just now read here http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/mai...-filter-causes-change-oil-pressure-print.html that certain oil filters can raise or lower your oil pressure (WIX vs. STP). I guess it's worth a shot.

You can still continue to cut it open. You will tell if there is any bearing material in there after its open by spreading the element apart and looking and the outside of it and not the inside. If you see any metal in it try using a magnet and see if it will stick to it. If there is anything in it that is copper color then you know its bearing material. Best thing to do is cut it open and take a pic and post it.

 

[Saturdee]

You can still continue to cut it open. You will tell if there is any bearing material in there after its open by spreading the element apart and looking and the outside of it and not the inside. If you see any metal in it try using a magnet and see if it will stick to it. If there is anything in it that is copper color then you know its bearing material. Best thing to do is cut it open and take a pic and post it.

I saw no copper flakes at all. I took a magnet in between each fold and did get some metal, but nothing copper looking. The metal I did get was almost like dust, or very tiny specs, some of which could have been from the cutting.

 

[white92talontsi]

I saw no copper flakes at all. I took a magnet in between each fold and did get some metal, but nothing copper looking. The metal I did get was almost like dust, or very tiny specs, some of which could have been from the cutting.

Hard to tell from the picture. I would put either a Wix/Napa gold filter on it or an OEM.

 

[Saturdee]

Hard to tell from the picture. I would put either a Wix/Napa gold filter on it or an OEM.

Will do, thanks for the responses. I'll update after I put the new filter on, OFH, and add some thicker oil.