erratic oil pressure guage needle?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 395
Likes: 0
erratic oil pressure guage needle?
Over the last few days I noticed that my oil pressure guage starts jumping around. It shows variable levels as it should at various RPMs etc ... then the needle may just start jumping around erratically, usally in the upper range of the dial. It seems to occur at speed when I let of the gas ... hit the gas again and it looks normal.
All the fluids seem to be fine, and no strange noises. Does that guage read an electric signal? Maybe a bad connection or something? Or is it a symptom of something to come? Thanks.
All the fluids seem to be fine, and no strange noises. Does that guage read an electric signal? Maybe a bad connection or something? Or is it a symptom of something to come? Thanks.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 22,267
Likes: 3
From: Dallas TX
Re: erratic oil pressure guage needle? (jwade91)
How much does it jump around?
btw, your oil pressure should surge just a tad when you give it gas, and ballon just a tad when you let off the gas. When you're holding a steady rpm, it shouldn't be moving.
btw, your oil pressure should surge just a tad when you give it gas, and ballon just a tad when you let off the gas. When you're holding a steady rpm, it shouldn't be moving.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 9,464
Likes: 1
From: Modesto CA
Re: erratic oil pressure guage needle? (Glock'94)
While we're on this topic, how hard is it to change the oil pressure sensor on a MAF L98? I KNOW my oil pressure sensor is gone, cuz most of the time my psi is at 80, then it just jumps around.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 22,267
Likes: 3
From: Dallas TX
Re: erratic oil pressure guage needle? (TIMSPEED)
I think it's the same thing (or close) on yours as ours. You'll need an "oil pressure sensor socket" to get it off unless you can get to it easily with a wrench.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 395
Likes: 0
Re: erratic oil pressure guage needle? (Glock'94)
Yeah, that's how it normally seems to work, and still does except for this weird "fluttering" when I let off the gas from cruising speed. It's pretty signficant when it does it, it'll move back and forth across the upper 1/3 of the dial, pegging out passed the 80 mark, like one of those old db sound dials on older stereo systems .
The sender was replaced about a year or so ago. I would think it would quit working altogether if there was something haywire with the connection.
The sender was replaced about a year or so ago. I would think it would quit working altogether if there was something haywire with the connection.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 22,267
Likes: 3
From: Dallas TX
Re: erratic oil pressure guage needle? (jwade91)
pased 80psi?? Hmmmm.. that can't be good. I would change your oil and filter and see what happens. Also, you might try another pressure sensor. Going over 80psi isn't good unless you're turning like 8000 rpm's.
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
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 22,267
Likes: 3
From: Dallas TX
Re: erratic oil pressure guage needle? (jwade91)
I would think it would quit working altogether if there was something haywire with the connection.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 395
Likes: 0
Re: erratic oil pressure guage needle? (Glock'94)
All the fluids seem to be fine. Oil is good, recently changed.
It may be the sensor. It looks like an electrical surging or something. I just wanted to confirm what sends the signal the guage reads. Do you know if it is part of the sender unit?
It may be the sensor. It looks like an electrical surging or something. I just wanted to confirm what sends the signal the guage reads. Do you know if it is part of the sender unit?
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 22,267
Likes: 3
From: Dallas TX
Re: erratic oil pressure guage needle? (jwade91)
The sending unit is a cydrilical sensor that is hooked in the oil system. I don't know where it is on your 91, but on my 94 it's at the very back of the engine right against the firewall. I suspect yours is probably there too. Mine is a 3-wire sensor. Yours might be different as well.
Damn.. just noticed you have over 200k miles on that thing! way to go! :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
[Modified by Glock'94, 12:48 PM 5/20/2002]
Damn.. just noticed you have over 200k miles on that thing! way to go! :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
[Modified by Glock'94, 12:48 PM 5/20/2002]
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 395
Likes: 0
Re: erratic oil pressure guage needle? (Glock'94)
Yeah, I've got a few miles on it. Mobil 1 works wonders apparently.
I keep thinking a rebuild is around the corner, but she has been rock solid. It could probably use an upper seal job, no leaks, but a little moisture down low, but I hate to tear into it and do all that work without touching the bottom end. I think Scorp had the same dilemma when doing his project. If his holds together pretty well, maybe I'll go ahead and do a similar project and leave the block alone. My thoughts are a slightly more aggressive cam, full rollers, porting. Basically just blueprint what the factory engineers came up with to get a little closer to 300hp. Painted black, definitely.
I keep thinking a rebuild is around the corner, but she has been rock solid. It could probably use an upper seal job, no leaks, but a little moisture down low, but I hate to tear into it and do all that work without touching the bottom end. I think Scorp had the same dilemma when doing his project. If his holds together pretty well, maybe I'll go ahead and do a similar project and leave the block alone. My thoughts are a slightly more aggressive cam, full rollers, porting. Basically just blueprint what the factory engineers came up with to get a little closer to 300hp. Painted black, definitely.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 3,504
Likes: 4
From: Mexico Beach FL
Re: erratic oil pressure guage needle? (jwade91)
Over the last few days I noticed that my oil pressure guage starts jumping around. It shows variable levels as it should at various RPMs etc ... then the needle may just start jumping around erratically, usally in the upper range of the dial. It seems to occur at speed when I let of the gas ... hit the gas again and it looks normal.
All the fluids seem to be fine, and no strange noises. Does that guage read an electric signal? Maybe a bad connection or something? Or is it a symptom of something to come? Thanks.
All the fluids seem to be fine, and no strange noises. Does that guage read an electric signal? Maybe a bad connection or something? Or is it a symptom of something to come? Thanks.
The problem seems to be more pronounced when the A/C is on -- so I suspect that the cold air in the A/C vents affects the gauge cluster oil gauge.
Tom Piper
4th Gear
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: South Deerfield MA
Re: erratic oil pressure guage needle? (jwade91)
I'm having the same problem with my 91 coupe. Mine only has 26,000 miles on it and the oil guage will randomly start vibrating and pin itself to the upper end. There is no set pattern as to when it will happen. I may check the connections as suggested in one of the postings. Otherwise I will take it to a GM dealer and see what they can find.
