Oil pressure problem!
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 31
Likes: 2
From: Sumter South Carolina
Oil pressure problem!
I bought a new oil pressure sensor and that went bad, my needle was reading 80 psi again after a week, well I was driving home from work and my pressure dropped to 0 and shot back up to 80, the needle was going crazy so I pulled over and shut the car off. I waited a few minutes and started the car back up the needle stayed at 80, I took it home and it's been sitting there since still no valve train noise no knocking or nothing, what do you guys think, can a bad sensor still tell you that your oil pump is bad?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
Was your old oil pressure sensor leaking oil? Did you clean the electrical connector good? If not, it could be a bad connection.
Never heard of a sensor failing with a low pressure. BUT, if no valve train noise, you should be okay. High readings are definately due to sensor.
Check pressure with ignition on and engine off a couple of times. High readings are bad sensor.
I don't think a bad sensor would indicate 0 if you had no oil pressure, because it doesn't indicate zero when ignition is on and engine is off (no oil pressure).
Never heard of a sensor failing with a low pressure. BUT, if no valve train noise, you should be okay. High readings are definately due to sensor.
Check pressure with ignition on and engine off a couple of times. High readings are bad sensor.
I don't think a bad sensor would indicate 0 if you had no oil pressure, because it doesn't indicate zero when ignition is on and engine is off (no oil pressure).
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 31
Likes: 2
From: Sumter South Carolina
The old ones didn't leak but when I turn the ignition on it does read high oil pressure but a couple of times it read 0 pressure. to me it sounds like lose wiring, I think I'll start with the easiest job which is the sensor and work my way to the hardest job the pump itself, I'm kicking myself in the *** because i was just looking at it 2 weeks ago and didn't change it. lesson learned
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Its a common failure. Turn on the key without starting the engine and look at the oil pressure. If it maxes out, your sensor is bad. There is a sticky at the top of this section regarding this issue.
MFIC
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,997
Likes: 14
From: Charlotte, North Carolina
I have changed a few of these for the same problem.
Bad Oil Pressure Sender 
