HELP!!!! OIL PRESSURE PROBLEM..
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 683
Likes: 4
From: Laurens SC
HELP!!!! OIL PRESSURE PROBLEM..
Hey everyone. I cant remember off the top of my head whether I used a full sythetic or half, but I have been having low oil pressure after driving for a while. When I start her up in the morning, the dash read around 30 lbs at Idle and around 45-50 lbs at driving speeds. This slowly drops as I drive. And if its kinda hot out and I have been driving for a while, the pressure can (and has) drop to 4 Lbs. This makes the little red light come on on the dash. As far as I can tell Im not burning any and the engine runs very well, but this low pressure scares me. When I see it happening, I double-foot the gas and brake just to keep it out of the red. Should I switch to a thicker oil to solve this or is there a more serious problem?? Please Help! The last thing I need right now is to Blow the motor. :eek:
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,095
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From: modland CT
Re: HELP!!!! OIL PRESSURE PROBLEM.. (Radio Joe)
ide start by changing your sender. if that doesnt work it might be time for new bearings & oil pump. :eek:i hope the crank is still good. you could run a heavy oil but honestly that is just a temp fix. good luck, i hope its just the sender. :cheers:
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,067
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From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
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Re: HELP!!!! OIL PRESSURE PROBLEM.. (yoslambo1@cs.com)
time to check out that sender and oil pump, hopefully nothing has been damaged
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 683
Likes: 4
From: Laurens SC
Re: HELP!!!! OIL PRESSURE PROBLEM.. (vader86)
How do you check the sender??? I am hoping thats what it is too....
Do you have to pull the motor to change the oil pump??? I was under it all day today doing a shift kit and never even thought to look.....
You guys are scaring me :eek:
Do you have to pull the motor to change the oil pump??? I was under it all day today doing a shift kit and never even thought to look.....
You guys are scaring me :eek:
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 83,381
Likes: 87
From: Boston, MA
4lbs is not good, even at idle that is pretty low. Like the others have said I would test/replace the oil pressure sending unit immediately to find out if it is lieing to you or not. If it in fact is being truthful, I would start with a new pump and hope for the best. Cross your fingers. :cheers:
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 14,130
Likes: 7
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: HELP!!!! OIL PRESSURE PROBLEM.. (Radio Joe)
Hey Joe,
As you can imagine,youre going to get great feedback as to what to check,but never told HOW to check it.Even I am not sure how to check the sender correctly.Its prob in the manual somewhere.
Anyways,Heres a great tip another forum member told me.
Above the oil filter is a oil temp sensor in the block.Remove this sensor and install a manual oil pressure gauge tool.Crank the car,then run it and see what the pressure says,hot and cold.
It should tell you if the pressure on the dash is correct or off.
One way I know of visually checking the sender on the back of the intake manifold is to see if the wires and plug is not cracked,and see if the metal tabs for the connector to plug on, and etc isnt coming apart on the sensor.If that checks out good,try cleaning the metal tabs and connector and check the reading again on the dash again.
A malfunctioning oil pressure switch can sometimes be the culprit.Other causes,a clogged oil filter.
Anyways,Hope it isnt a actual low pressure problem.if sothe motor is going to need some work.
:)
As you can imagine,youre going to get great feedback as to what to check,but never told HOW to check it.Even I am not sure how to check the sender correctly.Its prob in the manual somewhere.
Anyways,Heres a great tip another forum member told me.
Above the oil filter is a oil temp sensor in the block.Remove this sensor and install a manual oil pressure gauge tool.Crank the car,then run it and see what the pressure says,hot and cold.
It should tell you if the pressure on the dash is correct or off.
One way I know of visually checking the sender on the back of the intake manifold is to see if the wires and plug is not cracked,and see if the metal tabs for the connector to plug on, and etc isnt coming apart on the sensor.If that checks out good,try cleaning the metal tabs and connector and check the reading again on the dash again.
A malfunctioning oil pressure switch can sometimes be the culprit.Other causes,a clogged oil filter.
Anyways,Hope it isnt a actual low pressure problem.if sothe motor is going to need some work.
:)
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 13,910
Likes: 100
From: Manassas VA
NoVa Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '14
Re: HELP!!!! OIL PRESSURE PROBLEM.. (Radio Joe)
How do you check the sender??? I am hoping thats what it is too....
Do you have to pull the motor to change the oil pump??? I was under it all day today doing a shift kit and never even thought to look.....
You guys are scaring me :eek:
Do you have to pull the motor to change the oil pump??? I was under it all day today doing a shift kit and never even thought to look.....
You guys are scaring me :eek:
[Modified by Bluewasp, 4:04 PM 7/5/2002]
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Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 683
Likes: 4
From: Laurens SC
Re: HELP!!!! OIL PRESSURE PROBLEM.. (Radio Joe)
YAHOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!! It seems it was only the sender. My pressure at idle stays around 13lbs so I would say it was a bad sender. Thanks To everyone who offered input!!!:cheers:
Now I have to fix my newly leaking front trans seal :sad:
[Modified by Radio Joe, 8:50 PM 7/6/2002]
Now I have to fix my newly leaking front trans seal :sad:
[Modified by Radio Joe, 8:50 PM 7/6/2002]