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Reply to "Oil pressure"

quote:
Originally posted by george pence:
If the reading is bogus (most likely) then something is creating a short circuit, as increased resistance, a bad connection or wire, would create a lower reading. The things to check for are: oily or greasy pressure sender; the wire connected to the pressure sender possibly grounding out on the case of the pressure sender; a wire connected to the back of the gage shorting out.

Your friend on the DTBB


I recently installed a mechanical pressure gauge because I didn't like the flaky readings I was getting. I couldn't find any pattern to the different readings - it wasn't electrical, because the readings weren't related to having lights on, etc. It wasn't engine load related, because sometimes the pressure would surge or dip on a flat stretch. I replaced the sending unit, cleaned all the connections, and still got weird readings.

I installed a mechanical gauge and got a rock-steady oil pressure of roughly 60psi at highway speeds with everything warm. Sometimes my stock gauge would read as high as 50 or so, or as low as 30. But the mechanical gauge didn't waver.

What's really happening? The only way to tell is to put a mechanical gauge on and compare numbers. Are you being paranoid? Dunno. Most engines give you advance notice before digesting internal parts, and fluctuating oil pressure could be a sign of something getting ready to let go. Or could be a bad gauge.

Before installing the mechanical gauge I decided to change the oil, change the filter, and then just drive it. If the engine was going to die, then it was going to die and there wasn't anything I could do to prevent it. But the gauge gave me peace of mind...
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