Significant oil pressure gauge delay, normal?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 364
Likes: 2
From: Gainesville Florida
Significant oil pressure gauge delay, normal?
The displayed oil pressure (both digital and analog dash gauges) on my '99 FRC have always lagged behind the RPMs quite a bit. Some of my friends with mechanical oil pressure gauges in their cars say this isn't normal.
For example, holding the car at 4,000 RPM with 205F 10w-30 Mobil 1, the oil pressure will eventually hit 57 psi. This takes a while, maybe 15 seconds. At WOT, I typically never see 60 psi because the gauge seemingly doesn't react fast enough.
Is this delay normal? Does it reflect actual oil pressure (if so, I've got to get a new oil pump), or is it something with the gauge? I've got a LS6 pump, Lingenfelter (Setrab with -10 AN lines) oil cooler, and Clevite bearings. The delay was there when the car was stock.
For example, holding the car at 4,000 RPM with 205F 10w-30 Mobil 1, the oil pressure will eventually hit 57 psi. This takes a while, maybe 15 seconds. At WOT, I typically never see 60 psi because the gauge seemingly doesn't react fast enough.
Is this delay normal? Does it reflect actual oil pressure (if so, I've got to get a new oil pump), or is it something with the gauge? I've got a LS6 pump, Lingenfelter (Setrab with -10 AN lines) oil cooler, and Clevite bearings. The delay was there when the car was stock.
Last edited by GrantB; Jul 25, 2008 at 10:12 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,786
Likes: 7
From: Iowa
I've noticed this also. never knew what to make of it. my SHO has an Autometer electricl oil pressure gauge in it, and its much more responsive than the stock on in my C5. it seems like the oil pressure gauge never moves in the C5. whether I'm idling or crusing, seem slike its either a few ticks above 40 or a few below 40. in my other car I See it steep quite a bit. it goes to 100 when cold. then drops to 25 at idle when the oil warms up. moves in sych with the tach when I rev the engine, by crusing speeds its up to 40-50. when the RPM's change, the oil gauge reading changes accordingly. the stock on in the C5 seems very sluggish. I Wonder if its highly dampened or something? I can't figure out why an oil pressure gauge would need to be dampened though... it doesn't make any sense. maybe you should add an aftermarket gauge and compare the difference? its not a mechanical vs electrical thing, my autometer electrical works like I would expect it to.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 364
Likes: 2
From: Gainesville Florida
Well, I can hook up a manual gauge to my oil cooler housing pretty easily, but does anyone know if replacing the original sender would increase its response time? I've heard of them going bad quite often, but not like this.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
I've noticed this also. never knew what to make of it. my SHO has an Autometer electricl oil pressure gauge in it, and its much more responsive than the stock on in my C5. it seems like the oil pressure gauge never moves in the C5. whether I'm idling or crusing, seem slike its either a few ticks above 40 or a few below 40. in my other car I See it steep quite a bit. it goes to 100 when cold. then drops to 25 at idle when the oil warms up. moves in sych with the tach when I rev the engine, by crusing speeds its up to 40-50. when the RPM's change, the oil gauge reading changes accordingly. the stock on in the C5 seems very sluggish. I Wonder if its highly dampened or something? I can't figure out why an oil pressure gauge would need to be dampened though... it doesn't make any sense. maybe you should add an aftermarket gauge and compare the difference? its not a mechanical vs electrical thing, my autometer electrical works like I would expect it to.
HTH
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 364
Likes: 2
From: Gainesville Florida
Logging oil pressure in HP Tuners shows no delay (and over 70 psi by redline), so its obviously not the sender or the ECU itself. Both the analog and digital gauges show the delay, though. Does anyone know if there is a year of C5/6 that doesn't have this slow oil pressure gauge? It would be nice to be able to swap a part out and get a real oil pressure reading.
Last edited by GrantB; Jul 26, 2008 at 04:25 PM.
