Hi, I have an '89 Formula w/ LO3/700R4 tranni, the car has 105,000 miles on it and had 94,000 when I bought it. The car has obviously been babied its whole life (the car looks mint and blows NO smoke). My oil pressure gauge has always been between 30 and 45, even after running for hours. Today I noticed I started the car, 35, no problem... driving down the street 5 minures later 15.... a little scared.....stop at the traffic light 0 .... Im frightened!!!!! There is no noise coming from the engine and my oil pressure gauge shows 0 at idle.
Did I spin a bearing, is the oil pump going bad????
What could be the problem?
Thanks, Ben

 

my car does the same thing and has done since i got it. My mechanic says its because the bush at the end of the cam is loose and when the oil gets hot and thins out it loses pressure.
dunno whether or not its true but thats what he reckons. My advice is get it fixed if it is because i didnt and now my cams screwed and i need to replace it along with the rods.

 

Don't get alarmed just yet. It's probably just the oil pressure sending unit. They commonly go out. It's about a fifteen dollar part. But, be careful when you buy it. There's a long version and a short version. If your car requires the longer one, the short one will not clear the oil pan mounting surface. I had basically the same problem on my 92RS. Changing the oil pressure sending unit alleviated the problem. Best of luck!

 

as long as teh secodn you hit the gas the pressure coem sback up you are ok for now. i woudl still look into if the system is getting weak. you can pressure test teh system using teh oil boss at teh back of the block next to teh distrib. just get a pressure gauge and screw ti in there then start teh car. that will show you if the pressure is actually low or if the sending unit is freaking out. once the sending unit is completely dead it will go pinned ast teh highest pressur eonthe scale usually.

later
tim

 

Thanks for the awnsers guys.
Is the Oil Pressure sensor the fitting between the EGR valve and the distributer?

I'll probobly pick a new sensor up first.... and if that dosent work.... then I'll panic, Thanks Guys,
Ben