today i was getting on my se alittle on the highway and when i came off i noticed the oil temp was at 90-95 lb..i let off and it was idleing at 60lb, it normally sits at 40lb at idle....now tonight i took it for a ride and under any kind of load its sits at 90-95lb....is this normal at times cause this is a first for me....but it hasn't gone over that mark doing 2000 rpm/3000 rpm or even sitting at 6000 rpm....

 

Try another gauge if it worrys you. Otherwise whats the condition of your oil pan? It could be flaking on the inside and clogging the pick up tube.

 

That would cause the oil pressure to drop if anything. I'm betting it's the sender and/or the gauge. The stock oil pressure gauge is notoriously unreliable. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

 

Ah yes I suppose it would. My stock gauge read 60psi constantly. Now I run an aftermarket Equus gauge and all is well. Totally worth the money.

 

i also talk to to someone last night....i feel like a dumb *** but i used a cheap oil filter and some 10/30 i had laying around. could this cause the 20lb differnce?

 

Lower weight oil. 10W30 as opposed to 20W50, will show a lower oil pressure, especially when cold. It could be that your filter is plugging or the connectors to the sender need cleaned.

 

Hmmm......I always thought that restrictions cause an increase in pressure and a decrease in volume?

 

Only if they're after the pump, and only between the pump and the restriction. After the restriction, pressure drops.

 

On my first 83 back in the 90's I had the same problem. Cheaper oil filters (Fram) would always show higher pressure on the factory guage and most recently on my "new" 83, STP filters.
I'm currently having the same problem (high pressure) and I've tried several different oil filters. I'm currently running a factory Mazda oil filter and I'm still showing high pressure with the in dash guage. I haven't pulled the dash to check the resistance on the wires leading to the guage to determine if it is the guage or sensor, nor have I tried placing a resistor at the sender to see where it places the needle.
Please let me know how you make out with your high pressure - I haven't seen a post in a while and just curious if you found a solution before I start a series of tests.

 

well, i'm still working on the problem. i changed the the filter to a fram and changed the oil back to the 20/50 [its what it had to begin with] as far as checking the gauge it self, u can just un plug it from the sender. i also cleaned all the wiring up and still reads high now i have a guy with a gauge to check the acual pressure friday coming up. but the weird part is the first time changing the filter i got oil every where, this time it was like next to no oil and didn't spill a drop. i just hope its the sender and not a cloged pellit somewhere. i'll keep everyone up to date as i have time to do things

 

Was the oil filter dry inside?

 

ncb13, I just fixed mine tonight by replacing the oil pressure sensor. I checked online and Autozone had them for only $39.99 free ship to store when you order in store; ordered Wed morning and they had it today at 3. Anyway, changed it tonight along with my oil cooler antifreeze hoses and dash gauge works great again. Feeling pretty lucky about this one. Hope you have same luck and nothing serious with yours.

As far as the oil filter being dry when you removed, I used to experience that years ago with certain brands of oil filters. I think it depends on the internal flowback valve in the filter. Normally I put a nail through the top of the filter so it drains back down anyway to avoid the mess.

 

^^^^nice, i'll look into auto zone, but i should be getting it checked today...should.....

 

well i still haven't changed it yet..lazy....today is a little cooler and the car is running at 80lbs all day, and idleing at 58lbs. anyone think my oil cooler may have something to do with this. the car has 88,000 today

 

You need to perform a oil pressure test, End of story!

No more guessing, no more being lazy, As the commercial used to say from Nike, "Just do it"!

 

^^^true true

 

well went to go get a new sender and its working again....wtf.....still ordered a new one thou..