More oil pressure issues! It never ends!

[Spector5]

So long story short, car starts up just fine. Oil pressure looks good, and no dummy light.

However, after a few minutes and cars almost to operating temp, the oil pressure drops to almost nothing and the dummy light comes on. But when you give the slightest blimp of throttle the light shuts off, but no real movement in gauge in cluster. I haven't had a chance to hook up a mechanical, but what are the odds of both dummy and pressure gauge crapping out at one time?

Also once the car is shut off and cools down the process repeats itself.

 

[renovatdkitchen]

Are you still on the stock oil pressure gauge?

 

[ryztriumph]

I don't want to sound like captain obvious but have you actually checked your oil lately. Oil pressure switch and light both failing at the exact same time seems kind of unlikely and when you blip the throttle, you are raising the the oil pressure, causing it to turn off the light and raise the gauge.

 

[Spector5]

Oil levels fine, I'm still in the break in stage, so I change the oil like my wife changes clothes.

And yes I am still running the stock gauges. I haven't had the income as of late to buy a mechanical gauge and no one I know has one to use.

 

[renovatdkitchen]

Ah. The stock gauge is better at guessing the number of monkeys in a zoo than your oil pressure. I had the same problem with mine. Once I got an aftermarket oil pressure gauge, I found my oil pressure was perfectly normal.

 

[Spector5]

Yeah I've the stock gauge is nothing to go off of, but what scares me is the fact the gauge dumps to about 1/8th" above the Low indicator and then the dummy light comes on if the engine idles below 900.

As stated before the dummy light goes away after the slightest blimp of throttle but the gauge doesn't move a hair.

I took a look in the oil fill hole and the heads getting oil and there's no noticeable ticking or knocking coming from anywhere.

 

[renovatdkitchen]

Mine used to read the same thing. Sitting at a read light would scare me because it would show zero oil pressure and the oil light would come on untill I bliped the throttle to bring it up.

If you see oil in your head, then you have at least 15 psi, because that's the minimum pressure you need for oil to reach the head.

 

[Spector5]

Ok thanks for the mental help , I've been stressing all day. To much money invested in this car.

I just find it odd that both are going nuts when they run on there own sensors.

 

[renovatdkitchen]

No worries mate. The fact that you have oil in the head disproves that your oil pressure is too low. For the longest time I was worried about mine. Just picked up some cheapo glow shift gauges off ebay and finally got a proper pressure reading. It does give lots of relief to know that its not going to wreck.

But get an oil pressure gauge as soon as possible to be sure you are getting proper pressure.

 

[Spector5]

Yeah I just proved the aem gauge and they want 225 smackers. I'd like to have one I can keep in the car

 

[renovatdkitchen]

You want to buy an aem gauge? Why not go with something cheap for now just so you have the assurance that your oil pressure isnt too high/low.

 

[bigbird94]

You can get a sun pro mechanical oil pressure gauge at autozone for like $15. You don't need an AEM gauge to figure out if you have low oil pressure. You don't even need to run it in to the car just check it under hood from the OFH to make sure its not actually losing pressure at idle when the light comes on.

 

[untouchablecc]

I opt for a 45 dollar prosport to get you started.

 

[Spector5]

Well I'd like to stick to aem just for the fact I have the aem WB and boost gauge. Trying to make it match.

I'm thinking of just forkin I've the money for a cheapo to check oil pressure at its current state, but eventually get something more permanent in the future.

 

[neuro_funk]

If you're short on funds now just get a cheap one so you can know whats the deal with the oil pressure

 

[Spector5]

Yeah that's the plan, but even I oil pressured did take a crap it makes no sense As to why it did!

The motors just been rebuilt with all new parts, it just doesn't make sense.

 

[Black-Out]

My Starion had this issue and it ended up being that the factory sending unit was partially clogged with crud from 20+ yrs of use and abuse, try removing the sending unit and cleaning it out with carb clean or replacing it all together, otherwise like others have said it's not accurate-replace it with an aftermarket- the factory gauge is really there only to let you know you have pressure, not so much as to tell you how much of it is actually there. I like my factory gauges to work but my car isn't highly modified to the point where I feel the need to know exactly what the pressure is- But I can tell you that if I don't have the pressure gauge at least 1/4 the way up the gauge at running temp at idle then theres an issue- You have a fresh engine. But do you have a fresh sending unit? if the answer is no I'd gamble that the sending unit and gauge need a little love too before the somewhat useless info the relay to you can be taken even remotely seriously ....

just my .02

William-