What should the stock oil gauge read?

[Jacolu3]

I just picked up a 97 GSX. Drove it home and realized the oil pressure gauge was almost to the max the whole time. Regardless if I'm at idle or cruising. It was always right on the high mark the whole time.
Bad sensor or worse issues?

 

[406_Talon]

High oil pressure is pretty normal, as long as you aren't consuming a lot of oil or blowing the dipstick i wouldn't worry too much. Have you done a leak down test? The main thing I know to worry about here is worn rings causing excessive crankcase pressure, which means new rings. But both of my dsms run high. My 1g blows the dipstick if I'm really mean to it, but doesn't use oil. The oil pump relief spring can be cleaned and the relief port enlarged to allow more oil to pass through it, it seems that's a common solution.

 

[Jacolu3]

Have done a leak down yet. My concern was that it would stay at almost max the entire drive without moving. That's why I was thinking the pressure sender is no good but I am still learning about these cars

 

[406_Talon]

How quick does it go up when started? Does it not go down at all? It should dip back down after a few minutes of idle, and it should take a while to get high when started. If it just jumps into position, yeah, maybe a bad sending unit or gauge. If you have the option, try swapping the sending unit with a friends and see if it changes. Do you produce blue oil smoke at the tailpipe at all? That would indicate bad rings. Also take a look at the dip stick after a drive and see if it has come unseated.

 

[Jacolu3]

Once I first start it up it take about 30 seconds for it to slowly go to almost the max. Then the whole time driving or idling it pretty stays up top moving very minor amounts.
Haven't noticed any smoke out of the exhaust pipe of any colors. And I drove it home about 120 miles and the dipstick was seated perfectly.

 

[BostonGST]

try going under the car to the oil filter housing and remove the sensor plug and clean the connection points. I was having this problem with an aftermarket one always reading high and after I cleaned it up it now works perfectly

 

[Jacolu3]

Well I cleaned it up last night and checked it out and still same issue. So I'm getting a new one today and hopefully that will solve the problem.