When my engine is cold my oil sits at about 30 psi but when I'm driving to work (about 50 miles) the pressure drops to about 16 psi as the engine warms up. I always hit the lights when I get off the express way and the oil pressure and the RPMs fluctuate.. RPMs from 700 down to 400 (nearly stalling the car) and the oil from 16 down to about 4!!
The oil level is fine and not burnt. the car stays at roughly 120-130F.
What could make this happen and what should I check for?

thanks for any help on this one
Yam

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'89 IROC, custom 600cfm Holley carb, Street Dominator Intake, Flowtech headers, no cat, Flowmasters, no emissions (smog pump, charcoal fillter etc), remote starter solenoid, push button start, getto sound system, none leaking sunroof

 

Yam,

First, don't be overly alarmed. If the oil pressure were that low (4 PSIG), you would likely hear excessive valve train noise. If the engine seems to run fine otherwise, check the oil pressure with a mechanical gauge to verify the accuracy of the dash gauge. The instruments are fairly innacurate, and the sensing unit is definitely suspect. If the mechanical gauge indicates the same pressure as the dash instrument, you need to dig deeper.

If my suspicions are correct, you'll find a discrepancy between the two readings. If not, post back with results. I've had the same alarming sensation more than once, and it usually disappears with the installation of a $30.00 sensor.

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Later,
Vader
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"No matter how hard you try you can't stop us now..."
Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0

 

I had your same problem, installed a new oil pressure sending unit and poof it was gone. Plus it fixed an oil leak too

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Bright red 87 GTA with I have stock 3.27 gears,stock converter,B&M shift kit, TRW forged 9.75:1 pistons,comp cams pushrods, edelbrock valvesprings, 462 camel hump heads with 2.02in/1.60ex redrilled for angled plugs, 3 angle valve job, ported and polished, performer RPM intake, mallory fp regulator, edelbrock 750 CFM carb, hei ignition(new) with 10,000 volt coil,No cat, flowmaster 2 chamber mufflers, hedman full length headers, edelbrock cam with 488/501

 

The car stays at 120-130f? You mean car motor temperature? If so, you gauges are freaking out big time.
Go with what Vader suggested. I always use aftermarket gauges over stock.

Good luck buddy!

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350 4 bolt main, Speed-O-Motive 383 stroker kit, re-sized rods ground for clearance,TRW Forged pistons,10.7:1 compression,HPC Coated RPM intake, Speed Demon 750 cfm carb,World Products Sportsman II heads,2.02/1.60 valves, Comp Cam 1.6 roller rockers, Comp Xtreme 284 cam,240/246@.050 with .540 lift,Crane pushrods,ATI damper,Proform HEI and MSD6A box,HPC coated 1 5/8 headers, 2.5" exhaust with 40 series mufflers,TH350 with B&M 3000 stall, Powertrax NoSlip Locker, 4.11 gears.

 

seems your car is having a performance problem this happens a lot try giving your car a viagra...no just kidding

[This message has been edited by diznuff (edited March 01, 2001).]

 

diznuff... I was s'posed to give the car the niagra? no wonder its still actting the same

 

oops


[This message has been edited by CheezX (edited March 02, 2001).]