I know other gauges are notorious for going out. How about this one? It read 30 my whole way to school today, except for an occassional "bounce" to 60, and back to 30, bouncing throughout. It would just bounce everywhere.

I stopped and checked my oil---low. I added 2 quarts and it stayed around 25-30. I thought 45 was optimum pressure? Hopefully my gauge is bad and motor isn't screwed.

Would it even be wise to drive to work today (15 miles)?

 

my old 87 iroc use to jump all over the place too.

i checked it manually with a guage, specs only call for something like 18psi at idle (or maybe it was 2k rpms...don't recall). so as long as you are in the 20's you should be fine

 

Change the sender. They're real bad about blowing the diaphragm and reading wrong if at all. I've had to change mine 3 times since I bought her in '98.

 

yeah check the oil sending unit. its located towards the back of the motor by the distributer on i believe the drivers side

 

If not there then just above the oil filter. GM changed it but I'm not sure what year the change was.

 

I know where it is, I think. I forget off the top of my head but I remember seeing it while doing the SFC install. It's a little sliver metal casing with a wire on it going into the pan or block right? How much are they and anyone have a PN? Thanks for the quick responses!

-Corey

 

I too have been having " problems " with my oil pressure. at least i think it could be a problem. i just changed the oil, i put in 5 quarts, this in normal correct? n e ways my oil pressure is always around 60. even when idleing, the lowest it ever goes is high 40's.
is this bad? or is it good to have it that high?

- Ville H

 

It's not gonna hurt anything Ville. The sender may be on the way out and reading high, or someone may have put a high pressure oil pump in the car.



Corey....your description could be either the oil pressure sender or the knock sensor (both are metal cans threaded into the block.) If it's just above and forward of the starter with one wire, that's the knock sensor. Leave it alone. If it's above the oil filter with 3 wires, that's the culprit.

Shouldn't run more than $20 IIRC.