well i got a fuel pressure gauge today. with car off and i just turn key to on position. pressure builds to about 40-42 or around there. is that normal first of all?
also when i turn car on at idle it goes to about 35-37.
i let it sit for about 30 mins to 40 mins and pressure drops down to basically 0.
now maybe the gauge is leaking some pressure but when i feel around schrader valve its dry so its not leaking there.

the rest of the story why i think gas is leaking somewhere is because my oil seems to smell of fuel. when i let car sit for a while sometimes it cranks harder to start.

i just dont know now if maybe the gauge is just giving me a false reading or would it really be bleeding off that quick.

 

Let it idle. Remove the vacuum compensation line from the FPR. Pressure should be in the range of 43.5psi +/- 2.5psi, so anything from 41-46psi is OK. Then reconnect the vacuum line... pressure should drop proportional to intake manifold vacuum, or about 6-8psi from "no vacuum" value. Then take it up to WOT under max load, max RPM and it should hold above 40psi.

If you are losing pressure on shutdown:

-check valve in pump is bad
-diaphragm in fuel pressure regulator is leaking (check vacuum line for raw fuel)
-injectors are leaking

Pressure should not drop to "0" that fast.