I finally got the car fired up today after spending most of the summer doing a headswap. The car is idling awesome everything is great except......there is an oil leak coming from a sensor thing that is right above the oil filter. Kind of weird cos I never took the thing off and it never leaked before I put the heads on. I did clean it up a bit with a wire wheel on a die grinder but I can't see how I could've screwed it up. My dad got under the car to look at it and he said it looked like it was coming from the threads and not the actual case of the sensor. He wants to try removing it tomorrow and putting some teflon tape on the threads to seal it, not sure if that will work or not (hope it does). If it doesn't does anyone know what to do and does anyone know what this sensor is and how much it would be to replace.

Thank ya!

 

I had that same thing leak on me right after I bought my car a few summers ago. It is the oil pressure sending unit. They are $26 from auto zone. Mine leaked where the metal and plastic parts are joined together. I removed it using a pair of channel locks to be able to get a good grip on the metal portion. I actually had to replace it again just the other day after I swapped engines. The plastic case broke off. It didn't leak, just wouldn't sense the pressure anymore. I put teflon tape on it and haven't had any problems yet.

 

OK, outstanding info. It freaked me out when I saw the oil dripping. I thought it was coming from the head!! I will try the tape if that doesn't work I guess I at least know what it is and where to get it.

Much appreciated!!!! I will let you know how it goes tomorrow. Thanks!|

 

I think mine is leaking too.
If not it's all from the valve covers.

 

Just tried to get the sensor out and couldn't. I got it to loosen up with the channel locks, but it just spins in the filter housing and wont pop out. Anyone have any suggestions. I don't want to break it by getting too forcefull with it...

 

I don't quite understand what you mean by it spinning in the filter housing. There is a hole in the block with pipe threads. The metal portion of the sensor has pipe threads that run into the hole in the block. I used the channel locks on the metal portion of the sensor to unscrew it until I could loosen it by hand. I understand this is hard because you can't really see the thing. I can draw you a picture if this doesn't help.

 

On my 1989 Camaro 305 FI Vin E (TBI) the sensor directly ABOVE the oil filter is what I call the 'oil pressure switch'. I think it had three wires that came out the end. It detects when the oil pressure has reached 6 PSI or more. When it reached oil pressure of 6 PSI or more it closes a contact and applies +12 volts to the fuel pump. This is in parallel with the +12 volts sent by the 'fuel pump relay'. A 'filter housing' should not really play a part in removing this switch. Maybe we are not discussing the same part.

 

Just the casing to the sensor is spinning. The actually pipe threads are not. Hope that helps, I just don't really know how to effectively word it...

 

i changed that a few months ago, you will need a set of big channel locks or vice grips, the case around mine had to be compressed untill i was gripping the sensor itself, its encased in plastic. You just gotta keep going at it untill it comes off. I guess you could also find a deep socket that big......I destroyed my sensor taking it out, so make sure you have a new one.

 

Just wanted to let you guys know I got it out. I had to buy a deep well socket to do it. Didn't want to spend the money on it, but my dad and me couldn't get it with the channel locks. The new one is in and the oil leak has stopped though, so I guess it was money well spent. Thanks for the help!

 

recently i replaced the factory sensor which is a little different than the new one. a deepwell would not fit over it. a long screw driver and a hammer knocked off the sensor part leaving the threaded piece. channel locks and a little patience got it loose and replaced.