oil pump issues?

[Spector5]

So the other day I decided to get some tuning done with link. Started the car and noticed the oil pressure gauge was barely moving, maybe an 1/8th of an inch of the low side. However, I didn't even notice it until my idle went below 900(about 870-890 ball park) and the oil warning light started flashing at me.

So, I shut the car down and waited a few mintues. Then checked my oil level which was within specs. on the dipstick. I'm running a 20-50 weight oil so theoridically I should have higher than usual oil pressure not lower.

After inspecting my level I restarted the car and noticed the ever so light tick noise coming from the valve cover. So I pulled oil fill cover and looked to see if the cams were getting oil. Even after a good 5 minutes of running there was maybe a light coat of oil protruding and coating the cams. I stuck my hand over the fill oil and removed it and noticed there was oil on my hand which obvisouly there is oil getting to the head. I'm just not sure if my gauge is bad or my oil pump is taking a crap on me.

So my question is what are the odds of the oil pressure gauge taking a crap versus the pump itself going out on me?

 

[mondale]

I wouldn't play the odds with oil pressure issues. Do you have access to a pressure gauge ( a nice analog one maybe) to put in the oil pressure sender tap? One of the parts stores may have a rental gauge kit. Try to verify that the oil pressure is there before driving the car around. Did you change anything between now and the last time you drove the car?

 

[Mark L]

Yes oil pressure sending units on our 20 year old cars go bad, but I agree with Mondale get a good oil pressure reading to verify. I had a balance shaft bearing failure back in the day, it sounded like lifter tick in the beginning. And it had very similar symptoms with the oil pressure light flashing at idle.

 

[Spector5]

I haven't changed anything mechanically, however, I was trying to do some pulls to get data to tune with. In the process I felt and heard a loud bang noise as if I ran something over and it hit the bottom of my cars engine area. After looking I never hit anything. So I'm underling but hoping that something didn't let loose in the motor.

P.s when I say a pull, I mean maybe 4500-5000 grand, I was not beating the hell out of it

 

[Spector5]

Yes oil pressure sending units on our 20 year old cars go bad, but I agree with Mondale get a good oil pressure reading to verify. I had a balance shaft bearing failure back in the day, it sounded like lifter tick in the beginning. And it had very similar symptoms with the oil pressure light flashing at idle.

Well hopefully soon I can get a reading when I head home in a week or so, but I hope its not the balance shaft bearings! The motors has around 500 miles on the stroker rebuild.