Hey guys. I have a 1999 z28 LS1. The oil pressure gauge on it starts to get shaky now and then. When the vehicle is warm the pressure stays at the first quarter as normal and when accelerating it goes a bit above the halfway mark as normal too. I notice though when it stays at a constant pressure the gauge will start to shimmy back and forth repeatedly over a small area, almost like it's just vibrating side to side.

Now when I test for the pressure on the gauge it reads right and all things are good, its just the little bounce, almost like a speedometer does when it starts to fail.

I have been around these vehicles a while and I've seen quite a few of them do this as they get around the 100k miles. Do you know if this is a common issue related to the gauge failing itself? Or would this be something related to the oil sending unit? I guess it could possibly be the oil pump itself, but I really have my doubts on that. Has anyone experienced this and had any luck getting it fixed and enjoy sharing tips to an ol driveway mechanic who can't stand seeing a guage vibrate?

Thanks guys,
Sean

 

Could be a failing, loose connection at the oil pressure sending unit or it could be the unit itself. I would eliminate those possibilities first before assuming it's the oil pump.

 

Mine does that .. 2001 WS6 w/ 106K miles. Swapping the oil pressure switch didn't solve it, so I borrowed a cluster ... smoooooth as butter. So it's the gauge itself.

I'm thinking about trying some plastic-safe electronic tech spray. I'm waiting for the weather to warm up though since it's simply an annoyance, not hurting anything.

 

What's "plastic-safe electronic tech spray" and what does it do?

I've got shakey guages on my '98 Z.

 

Electrical contact cleaner is often destructive to plastic. He's talking about taking the cluster out and using electrical contact spray to clean the gauge itself with ECCleaner that's safe for plastics.

 

be careful though. it may be more then just a sticky gauge... sometimes that falling oil pressure (especially after warmed up) is due to airation in the oil created at the oil-pick up tube o-ring. Its a pesky little booger, but most of the time guys notice it after doin a cam and oil pump swap. Over time its known to wear out lifter #7 and that ticking at cold start.