My oil pressure gauge is acting extremely erratic. It jumps all over the place and sometimes it'll drop to straight zero and throw a "check gauges light". What can I do to check/fix this? I just installed my new motor, so I'd really like to keep an eye on the oil pressure while I break it in. Any ideas?

 

Pull the connector off the sensor and turn the key ON. Your gauge should show very high. If so, the gauge would likely be ok. Your sensor may be bad or you really have poor oil pressure.

 

Thanks for the help. Do you happen to know where those sensors/plugs are? Also, by "on" do you mean just turn the key, or actually start up the engine? Thanks.

 

Here's a picture where the oil sensor is. Do not start the engine when testing. The position just before start.

http://csce.uark.edu/~jgbertr/rb/intake_rear.jpg

 

If you are getting erratic pressure readings on a brand new engine, I'd check the actual oil pressure with a mechanical gauge. You can connect one to the port in the block, right above the oil filter, that has the 1/8" NPT pipe plug in it.

 

Well, I just unplugged it and the gauge went all the way to the top. So I guess that it's working fine. Now I'm at a loss.
Here's the background:
1) Normal (old motor) PSI has always been around 40 unless I really get on it, then it rises.
2) The engine is not new. It has 10,000 miles on it, but I recently installed it in my car. It had no problems before.
3) Using a K&N oil filter and Valvoline 20W-50 oil. I'm not sure about the oil, though. I had a performance shop check out the engine internals about a month ago, and that's what they put in there "because of the Georgia heat".
4) Once I installed the motor PSI was around 60. Now it's mostly around 40ish, but will fluctuate all over the place from time to time. It will also drop all the way to ZERO, bring up a check gauges light, and then return to normal.
5) Also just checked the oil, and I don't even see any on the dip stick (after wiping and re-inserting). But I'm not leaking a drop of oil anywhere.

I know that's a lot to digest, but your help is greatly appreciated. I'm worried about driving it now. And yes, I will get it mechanically checked the first chance I get. Thanks again.

 

hot georgia weather?!?!?!

dude, everywhere gets into the 90's during at lteast some point in the summer, its no biggy, the ENGINES temperature is regulated by the cooling system, and should stay relativly the same whether july, or january.

GET THAT OIL OUT PRONTO....

and slap whoever told you that in the fuggin face...

talk about causing unneccesay wear on your motor...



5w-30 bro... year round...

mobil 1 synthetic...

and make sure you fill it... 5.5 quarts...