when i start my car and drive my oil presure gauge always reads all the way as far as the gauge goes where should it be on a 12a i thought that was abnormal for it to be tapped out on the gauge??

 

I can't tell you on a 12A, but on a 13B it is around 65 at go and 25 or so at idle. Yours should be the same.

John

 

mine is running at idle or driving at 110 and im worried to even drive i think somthing is wrong

 

something is definitely wrong. But it might be just the sender. Take out the connection and clean it (probably oily). Then see what it reads. If it doesn't change, try to get a different one or an external gauge that will measure accurately. At idle it should be 20 something and at cruising between 64 and 79.

 

where is the connector at??

 

is it bad to drive on high pressure??i know the metering pump linkage has a VERY TINY leak i havnt even noticed it but the other own said so and i check all the time what is the best oil to use anyway the guy at mazda couldnt tell me he said rotories might be different then normal

 

In my car, my stock gauge reads about 1/4 at idle (I believe it says 2). While cruising at 2000 rpm its at half way on the gauge (i believe 4). My aftermarket gauge reads 17 psi at idle warmed up fully, and 60-70 psi while cruising.

 

Try turning the key as far as it'll go without engaging the starter. What's the oil pressure then?

 

60

 

My oil pressure is about 25 at idle 60 to 70 at cruise. I use castrol gtx 20/50weight. I think your sender is bad or it has a loose connection.

 

yea at ACC. on the key it reads 60 (middle) then when u turn the car on it inches to 120 and stays and the tops at 125 which is past the gauge

 

Like cdrad51 said,you need to clean the connection at the sender.Its the gold(probably filthy black now) little thing below the oil filter(looks kinda like a tall mushroom).It has one wire attached to the top.It sticks straight out to the drivers side of the car.The other little thing thats down there,that faces kinda diagonal/ forward, is the water temp gauge sender.It also has 1 wire going to it,but the water sender is much smaller.

Clean the connections with brake or carb cleaner and be sure the metal connectors are snug and making good contact.If it doesnt help,then the sender could be bad,they arent known for being accurate after 20 years.Easy to change and not too expensive.Someone here probably has a used one they could part with.
Sometimes the gauge itself will go haywire,but its less likely since its protected from oil and heat,inside the interior.

 

delineated in the below pic, you will find the oil pressure sender

 

just spray that with carb cleaner and wipe off good and do it a few times since it is probly realy nasty

 

how do you install a new oil pressure gauge im thinking about putting a auto meter oil pressure and water temp gauge and mouting them under the radio and then maybe get some others later just the ones i need though not ricer lookin when you ask them what it is for they cant tell you

 

did that handle it?

 

no i did it today pretty good dryed it let it sit to air dry to make sure it was dry went out there and my gauge still reads 110

 

time to get a new sender I guess.

 

Guys,
Lets make this simple. Those gauges are almost as old as CRAD51. Would you trust something that old?? Install a mechanical gauge for much more accurate reading before anything else.

 

Are you saying anything older than 25 years is worn-out and untrustworthy?

 

no wonder why my last wife left me!

 

 

could i drive with this problem since it is probly the gauge screwin up or should i stay safe and keep driving my moms green volvo wagon (pimpin the grocery gator) hahaa

 

Personally, I wont drive it without a second opinion; meaning installing a mechanical gauge. I blew a newly ported engine in the 80's because my old RX-4's inaccurate water temp gauge. A costly lesson.

 

snap i think it comin over thursday to check it out and help me thank god