i have noticed lately when i start my car the oil pressure gauge will read really high then slowly go down. Normally when i start it will read at 30 or some where around there. But now reading really high almost to 60. The engine is L03 tbi with 118,000. ANy thoughts of why?

 

it's normal. When the oil is cold it is thicker and produces higher oil pressure. When it warms up it thins out and the oil pressure drops.

 

If the oil pressure gauge is doing something it normally doesn't do, then remove the sending unit for the gauge and inspect it for damage, or clogged, etc. Most pressure gauges will do this just like 25th said. If the sending unit checks out, and you are sure the gauge doesn't normally do what you are describing, then you may have a gauge starting to go bad.

 

I had the same problem. It started out at 30 then droped to 0 one day and I liked to sh*t my pants. Soooo, I went to the goody store and got a cheeeep oil pressure gauge and guess what? 40 at idle hot or cold !

 

If one gauge on the thirdgens is going to go screwy, it is the oil pressure. Almost always the sending unit.

 

Your right about that sending unit. As soon as I saw my pressure drop to "0" I figured that was the problem but before I paid a wad of cash for a new (they aint cheap) sending unit, that you can't get a refund on after installation, I checked the pressure with a direct pressure gauge first. I guess you could call it a lie detector! If you have good pressure with the manual gauge you know the sending unit is lieing! I like the manual gauge the best because it responds faster than the elec. ones. the man. ones run about 10-15$ Just trying to save ya a little cash!

 

All my gauges are pretty screwy. Especially the fuel gauge. Its so messed up. Thats why Im getting all autometer gauges soon. Getting a oil pressure and temp for the pillar monday. Since they are the most important.

Then Im gonna buy a tach, speedo, voltage, gas, tranny fluid temp, and a nitrous pressure gauge (the face has 6 holes...and Im gonna get nitrous so why not)

Not only will it look awesome but it will function and the gauges will be right.