Where should the oil pressure gauge be sitting when idling, and also when accelerating? About what sort of level says that the engine is healthy? Any comments would be helpfull,would just like to know.Cheers.

 

I can't remember off hand, but do a search and you will find out. That is what I did.

 

Yes, please use the search function, but I'll help you out:

~30 psi at idle
~60 psi at 3000 rpm
goes to 100+ psi near redline

 

what if it doesnt go above 60 while driving at any rpm?

 

the oil pressure sender unit is faulty by nature. sometimes it works, sometimes it don't. if your car starts bucking id worry.

 

yeah ditto
Mine seems to move up and down with the RPM at first, but after the car has warmed up ,unless I WOT heavily the needle stays right down on Zero( pretty much) is this a sign of a frigged oil pump?

 

Then your oil pressure sender unit is either beginning to fail, or the contact at the spade connector is dirty, a common problem. Clean off the connector and see if that solves the problem; if not, replace the sender unit and you should be fine.

 

where do I find the connecter/spade/ dirty thing?

 

The oil pressure sender unit is mounted on the engine directly below the stock oil filter tower (hence the reason it gets dirty). It's a bit difficult to see, but if you crane your neck into the engine bay enough to look past the TB elbow, you'll see it. It's a cylindrical unit with a rubber cover over the top. The spade connector is right on top.

 

Funster,
The Factory Service Manual might also help in the future. You can download here for free.
http://www.iluvmyrx7.com/
I've never seen the specificed minimum oil pressure at idle, but FWIW, the FSM says 50 psi minimum at 3000 rpm. Personally mine starts to drop a bit between oil changes, I assume due to fuel dilution. Starting out it's (as rynberg indicated) 60 psi or higher.

 

cheers guys

 

Thanks everyone!

 

what is this bucking you speak of? My oil pressure gauge just started acting weird. sometimes it reads just as it should but right now it barely goes above 30psi. I'll probably get back in and it will be reading fine. does that sound like the oil pressure sender? I'm kinda worried.

 

It sounds like your sender unit is beginning to fail. My original sender unit acted the same way before it failed completely. Simply installing a new one cured the problem.

 

yeah, acctually while it was acting funny I opend the hood and wiggled the connector..... it's working fine now. about how much do new units run?

 

Mine will be all jittery with the light appearing sometimes, though it is over 60psi at 3000. Oil level seems fine and will do an oil change when I get back from Vegas this weekend.

Is the oil pressure sender an expensive part to replace?

Do aftermarket gauges use the same oil pressure sensor?

 

No answer on this and can't find any similar threads, also, the water temp "light" will come on even though the temperature isn't reading above 1/2, and occassionally at startup it will come on also.

is it time for me to do a gauge overhaul or am I looking at more severe problems?

 

i wouldnt worry about the oil pressure gauge. hell they took care of that in the later models by replacing it with a boost gauge.

your losing coolant somewhere exitanity. top off the coolant it may just be an air bubble. if not worst case scenario is that your coolant seals are gone and its time for a new motor.

 

Thanks Scratch,

I have a new radiator ready to go in and will be replacing the radiator lines as well. wish me luck.