Is This Normal?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Laredo TX
Is This Normal?
I'm a new user to Corvetteforum, and I am not that great on knowledge with engines...
My 1990 L98 Corvette's Oil Pressure goes crazy! The oil pressure gauge shows 0 to 80, my car reads 75, then jumps down to about 40 and then jumps back up to 75 and repeats when I am braking or idling. My vette sometimes shuts down, especially when braking.
Does anybody know what could be wrong?
Please let me know, and do not use abbreviations on anything because I don't know what they mean...please keep in mind that I'm not that knowledgable on Engines.:o
any information helps!
I have a C4 Haynes Repair manual(doesnt help) but could be used to refer to parts mentioned
My 1990 L98 Corvette's Oil Pressure goes crazy! The oil pressure gauge shows 0 to 80, my car reads 75, then jumps down to about 40 and then jumps back up to 75 and repeats when I am braking or idling. My vette sometimes shuts down, especially when braking.
Does anybody know what could be wrong?
Please let me know, and do not use abbreviations on anything because I don't know what they mean...please keep in mind that I'm not that knowledgable on Engines.:o
any information helps!
I have a C4 Haynes Repair manual(doesnt help) but could be used to refer to parts mentioned
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 26,745
Likes: 694
From: PA
Describe more about how you are driving when the oil pressure goes up and down.
For instance....when you give it full throttle does it increase? When you come to a stop in gear what does it read? What does it read when you are going down the road in top gear at 55-60mph?
It shuts off when you hit the brakes? If it is a manual tranny car you need to push in the clutch when coming to a stop or it will stop completely....lol j/k dude
Seriously though. How many miles, what tranny, any modifications to the car....etc
For instance....when you give it full throttle does it increase? When you come to a stop in gear what does it read? What does it read when you are going down the road in top gear at 55-60mph?
It shuts off when you hit the brakes? If it is a manual tranny car you need to push in the clutch when coming to a stop or it will stop completely....lol j/k dude
Seriously though. How many miles, what tranny, any modifications to the car....etc
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Laredo TX
Wow
damn it feels great when someone responds to my problems...
well its an automatic...
the only mods i have are simple, Flowmasters exhaust system, K&N AirFilter, K&N Oil Filter and Royal Purple Synthetic oil...its mostly Stock...
My engine is pushing 98,000 miles...I bought it used, and I am a 3rd owner. The first two owners raped the c4...they abused
it and drove it on a beach!!! i found sand under the hood the first week i had it! I bought it about 2 years ago and this problem just about started 5 months ago..
ANOTHER PROBLEM....MY speedometer doesnt work...it seems "burned" from the LED. I can only read it when the lights are on and the when i squint...sometimes it just shows a ZERO and i dont know how fast im going.
well its an automatic...
the only mods i have are simple, Flowmasters exhaust system, K&N AirFilter, K&N Oil Filter and Royal Purple Synthetic oil...its mostly Stock...
My engine is pushing 98,000 miles...I bought it used, and I am a 3rd owner. The first two owners raped the c4...they abused
it and drove it on a beach!!! i found sand under the hood the first week i had it! I bought it about 2 years ago and this problem just about started 5 months ago..ANOTHER PROBLEM....MY speedometer doesnt work...it seems "burned" from the LED. I can only read it when the lights are on and the when i squint...sometimes it just shows a ZERO and i dont know how fast im going.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,588
Likes: 10
From: North New Jersey
Could be a bunch of things but its likely either the gauge itself or the oil pressure sending unit thats found on your engine...
When you start the car it should read at about 60psi on a cold startup and under 20 when its fully warmed up at idle. When you give it gas it should increase to 40-60ish depending on how much gas you are giving it.
When you start the car it should read at about 60psi on a cold startup and under 20 when its fully warmed up at idle. When you give it gas it should increase to 40-60ish depending on how much gas you are giving it.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 289
Likes: 1
From: Tucson Arizona
I think you have two separate problems.
1) The oil pressure problem sounds like a bad sender. If the '90 is like my '86 the good news is that the sender is not that expensive. The bad news is that the sender is a pain to get at as it is buried at the back of the engine, on the driver's side, by the distributor.
2) Does the check engine light turn on? If so, read the codes as they may indicate a problem area causing the stalling.
Steve
1) The oil pressure problem sounds like a bad sender. If the '90 is like my '86 the good news is that the sender is not that expensive. The bad news is that the sender is a pain to get at as it is buried at the back of the engine, on the driver's side, by the distributor.
2) Does the check engine light turn on? If so, read the codes as they may indicate a problem area causing the stalling.
Steve
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Laredo TX
the light comes on...then turns off before i can scan anything and get information on it....well, i dont scan it, but a friend of mine that knows better than i do does. it wont say whats wrong, unless the light stays on while i take it to him(which it usually turns off)....
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,043
Likes: 8
From: Tampa Florida
Check the engine oil level to ensure that it is not under or over filled (getting bubble churn from the crank if over).
If your lucky: just your pressure sender just has a problem. Replacing the sender is not that big of a deal so it would be a great place to start if you can't nail down a trouble code.
If your unlucky: oil pump/pickup has problems or you have multiple issues.
If your lucky: just your pressure sender just has a problem. Replacing the sender is not that big of a deal so it would be a great place to start if you can't nail down a trouble code.
If your unlucky: oil pump/pickup has problems or you have multiple issues.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,771
Likes: 0
From: MANDEVILLE, LA La
Racer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 289
Likes: 1
From: Tucson Arizona
the light comes on...then turns off before i can scan anything and get information on it....well, i dont scan it, but a friend of mine that knows better than i do does. it wont say whats wrong, unless the light stays on while i take it to him(which it usually turns off)....
Steve
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,482
Likes: 196
From: folsom california
If your car was driven on the beach....in Texas ? lets assume it was also exposed to salt water. There are a dozen different things that could be wrong, but the one single thing that could be common to all your issues would be a bad ground, or series of bad grounds. Look around your car; there will be a number of braided wires without insulation; these are ground cables, clean and tighten where they connect to the frame, block, etc. Good luck.