I changed my oil pressure sender and now I have the new one in...when I drive normal it's around 40-45 psi at 3K or more rpm it's about the same. Before when I had my old one it read about 58-60psi at 3K or more rpm, and around 35-45psi normally driving. This doesn't seem right. Or is it? What could be the problem?

thanks,
Kevin
1989 GXL

 

Sounds like a variance in the accuracy in the sending unit. Did you replace it with an aftermarket one or a OEM replacement?

 

i got it from napa, so i guess it's an after market thing

 

Shoulda kept the old sender unit. The fsm gives a procedure for checking out the gauge. It has you put a resistor of a given value on the sender units terminal and then put the other end of the resistor to ground.

For instance, you put a 102 ohm resistor on the senders wire terminal and ground the other end of the resistor to ground. Wait a couple to three minutes with the key to ON (engine not running, please) , and the gauge needle should go to uppermost mark on the gauge.

The key remark in the fsm is, that the accuracy of the gauge should be within two widths of the gauge needle. That gauge needle is pretty wide imho.

If your interested in your oil pressure buy a cheap mechanical oil pressure gauge like a SunPro and install it. It has a long tube b/t the gauge and the oil input end so maybe put it on your windshield wipers and drive it for a hour or so on the freeway to get things hot, and see what your oil pressure really is. Then put it back on the shelf. NOTE: you might want to unplug your wiper motor before doing this. A slip of the finger on the wiper switch will give you a bit of heartburn.

 

I really don't want to take it back out, the other one was leaking, that's the reason I changed it. I think I broke it taking it out anyway, it was pretty bent up.

thanks

 

I would probably check the accuracy of the gauge and new sender by using a mechanical gauge as a test.

If it is just the sender is off a little as far as reporting, but follows the mechanical in operations, then you could just adjust the pointer on the stock gauge.

But if your oil pressure is really off by 15psi then I would be looking at a stuck E-shaft oil thermo valve, something that can cause engine failure down the road.

 

how can i check my guage it goes to the upper most mark on the guage with out the engine runign and it stays there even withthe engine running.