I changed my oil yesterday, put in the weight and amount that the FSM said to. Got a new filter also, premium one from NAPA. The change went fine etc and i drove the car afterward (nice day like 75) with no problems at all. Today i started the car up to leave my girlfirends house (like 48 out today, ugh), and let it idle for a few minutes to warm up. I drive about a block and notice that my oil psi is at 0 (like the gauge needle just lays flat and doesnt move AT ALL). I got nervous so i babied it home, only a 2 or 3 minute drive. The car seemed to drive fine, i didnt get on the gas much but none the less it ran like normal. The first thing i thought when i got home was that maybe my oil sending unit went bad (i hope thats it, its like 12$ and means nothing is really wrong with the car) but my dad said that it could be a number of things. Any help guys, i really hope this isnt gonna be a huge repair.

 

Check the oil pressure sender wire. It probably came off.. It's below the oil filter Kinda cone shaped

 

$20 says he knocked it off when he was replacing the filter.

Rat

 

thanks guys, i know that has to be it....i am a BIG boy, so my arms dont fit well in tight spaces...and i do remember moving a wire outa the way as i twisted the filter off. Thanks, ill let u know if thats what happend.

 

I hate to say it, but- did you remember to put the oil pan drain plug back on?

That's another good bet, Rat...

If everything's connected and you still have oil in her, tap on the sender with her running to see if the needle twitches. If it does, you're right about the sender. Happens to the best of us...

When mine fell to 0 psi, I was hauling *** down the freeway, so I know the feeling

 

Wouldnt you slip on the gigantic oil slick that should be surrounding your car?

 

Lol, yeah, but think back to all the stupid things we've done to our cars in our "rookie days"...

 

Well, forgetting the oil drain pan isnt one of them.. But I did remove an oil filter and the gasket stayed on, then I screwed on another oil filter. What a mess....

 

Been there, left that wire off, had a small heart attack before figuring it out...

If there's really no oil in the engine, you should get the "HEY IDIOT!" buzzer & light going off as well.

-=Russ=-

 

check the drain plug it might have been installed only hand tight and had fallen out later.
if there is oil check the oil pressure sending unit.(the round piece under the oil filter). if the connector is ok. check the condenser (little black box) on the tranny behind the oil pressure sending unit. make sure its connectedor that the wire is not broken.or it has come loose.

 

thanks alot guys, i really appreciate the help for a new guy like me.....ill try to check it asap, its like 45 out right now, and i wont be driving today so maybe ill push her into the garage and turn the heater on and see what i can do.

 

let it warm up

sometimes when i start my car the oil pressure reads zero
if i blip the throttle quick, so it jumps to 3-4k it usually shows a steady increase in pressure and everything is good for however long i'm in the car

hope it all works out!

 

in every car i drive i watch the temp guage like a hawk now...

 

I do the same thing.

 

me too