(This is on the stock gauge) Ok, I thought i had a bad seal or somthing but now i think other wise. I'm curious about it and at the same time pissed cuz im afraid to drive my car. Well at idle my oil pressure would drop to just under 30psi. Then it started to go to about 15 psi. Tonight I looked up after idling in a parking lot for about 5 minutes I noticed it said almost 0! I gave a little rev and it went back up and then back down to 0 slowly. So I turned off, popped hood, and checked oil, perfectly level. So I still thought nothing of it (but i'm keeping an eye on it now) and went home. About half way home it starts to read just barly above 0. But no smoke no bogging no nothing and I'm really really confused. I think its the sending unit or the gauge but how can i check it?

 

My motor would read a hair above 0 at idle sometimes, try changing the oil, it seems to foam easier when its old. as long as you have some pressure at idle its ok, you really need the pressure under load/ above idle however.

 

mine does the same thing but I have never seen it drop below about 25 PSI. When its cold it can run as High as 55-60 lbs at idle when the cooler is closed. lately it seems it has been getting lower and lower. The motor definately does not run like a new one, but it runs okay and makes no noise. I use mobile 1 15w50 and it was changed in the last 1000 miles.

 

mine does the same thing but I have never seen it drop below about 25 PSI. When its cold it can run as High as 55-60 lbs at idle when the cooler is closed. lately it seems it has been getting lower and lower. The motor definately does not run like a new one, but it runs okay and makes no noise. I use mobile 1 15w50 and it was changed in the last 1000 miles.

 

mine does the same thing but I have never seen it drop below about 25 PSI. When its cold it can run as High as 55-60 lbs at idle when the cooler is closed. lately it seems it has been getting lower and lower. The motor definately does not run like a new one, but it runs okay and makes no noise. I use mobile 1 15w50 and it was changed in the last 1000 miles.

 

No smoke and plummeting oil pressure is a great sign of worn main bearings. Oil pressure at 3000rpm should exceed 60psi.

 

If you blew the oring in the front cover you will not leak oil, but you will lose almost all your pressure.

 

Could be a blown O ring in the front housing too!
Michael Smith

 

Even while I was cruising home at liek 60 on the highway it would still read like nothing. And no matter what i did it wouldn't move. Is there at least the possibility that it is the sender or the gauge because i can't afford a rebuild right now!

 

It could be the wire to the sending unit is coroded or really dirty.Try cleaning it up and making the connection tighter.This problem seems to happen to a lot of 2nd gens.

Good Luck
Danny

btw check to see if the sending unit is leaking!

 

My motor still runs and drives but im still afraid to go anywhere. So does anyone think its ok to drive it?

 

Ok now im more confused than ever. I just started it and left it idle and it idled perfect..about 20psi at idle. held it at about 2500 and it went strait up to almost 60 psi.. Anyone with any ideas? I'm i looking at bearings and seals now or is it most likley the sender or gauge? Or should i see what happens after its at norm op temp..

 

follow the aformentioned "check the sending unit" advice. It's quick, it's relativly non-dirty (if you drain your oil first), and it's caused me trouble... i know i had to clean mine i up. I had the exact opposite of what you have.. Mine would jump all the way up to the top on startup, and then sorta go in half reverse, occasionally dropping down a bit at higher RPMs.. I haven't tried the engine yet, but it no longer jumps all the way up on power on..

 

Disregard my remark about the main bearings. Though a blown oring will not plummet your oil pressure unless you're obscuring a full 8 lanes of traffic in the cloud of smoke.