My oil pressure gauge on the dash moves a lot. It seems to move up high (Over 60) when I press the trottle. When I let off it goes back down (Under 20)

Is this normal?

I just got the car and I am trying to learn what to do.

Thanks all.

 

as long as its not in the red its all good...or maybe the sender switch is bad?

 

uhm.. well if its goin past 60 it's in the red or well past it.. unless the gauge is a 80psi

 

can oil pressure ever be too high> isnt more pressure a good thing>? on my new motor i always read over the gauge unless the car was running for a few hours irs about halfway...little under

 

Yes oil pressure can be to high...

 

If the needle bounces alot then the oil pressure sending may be bad, mine did that and it would start bouncing at about 1500 RPM and then it would peg the needle out, I replaced the sending unit by the oil filter and that fixed the problem.

 

Thanks all.

Is there any chance that someone could post a picture of it because i do not hvae the time to hunt for it any time soon.

 

no pic but seriously...it screws into the block right above the oil filter. its like the only thing there.

 

60+ isn't a problem on a thirdgen.. im pegged past 60 everytime i start my car, or when im on the freeway..

 

i might have to replace mine...my pressure acts kinda funny something. What in the hell is that big brass thing beside the distributer? it has a connector into it. Big tube thing...i thought that was the oil pressure sending unit?!?

 

it is...this is where your gauge connects. and the gauge will vary, higher pressure when cold/higher rpms...yours sounds normal to me...

 

Just to show another side to the sending unit issue, I've been having some problems with my oil pressure gauge lately, too. The needle tends to "stick" and won't move around... sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't. I replaced the sending unit and it still has the same symptoms. I'm beginning to believe that the gauge itself may be messed up.

 

60 psi isnt to high i dont think. my car runs just a lil over 60 when cold and about 60 psi unless its 100 degress out then it will drop. also if your oil presure gets to high it has a saftey valve in the oil pump that opens and lets a lil pressure escape out a lil hole in the side of the pump.

 

Just a thought here guys. My pressure guage would do something similar to that when the oil got a little too low. have you simply checked the oil yet?

 

Yes check the oil. At idle mine would drop to around 20 and as soon as you tap the throttle it would shoot up. It's more then likely not the sender I would check the oil level first.

 

I know this is over 10 years ago, but mine will be at like 0 and I press the gas and it pegs, then letting off the gas it goes to 10. It bounces around more than any other gauge on the cluster. I will be replacing my sending unit when I get a chance, but if I understand it, this is a semi-common issue to have..

 

Yes it is actually QUITE common.

"Normal" for one of these cars (quick before someone pops up with the "10psi per 1000 RPM" which is NOT normal at all, but rather is the "racer's rule of thumb" for MINIMUM NEEDED FOR SURVIVAL) is around 50ish hot cruising, 30ish hot idling, could easily peg the gauge cold. Lots of variation from car to car and according to the condition of the engine, and a fair amount of swing as RPMs change. If the motor has been rebuilt and has the "standard pressure" oil pump relief spring in it, it will be more like 40ish hot cruise and 25ish hot idle.