My oil pressure gauge is reading lower than usual. It used to be at 30psi pretty much all the time. Now it is between 0 and 30, almost in the red area sometimes. The car has 139K miles on it. Oil level is full, but the car does leak a little oil so I have to put about 1/4-1/2 quart in every week or so.
Engine temp is normal.
Thanks,

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Zepher
'86 Pontiac Trans Am WS6, LG4 305, 5 Speed, CF DF Clutch,
Edelbrock 1406 Carb, Edelbrock Performer RPM 7101 Intake Manifold.
Edelbrock Open Element Air Cleaner: Flowmaster Exhaust, 160* Thermostat,
Grant GT Steering Wheel, MSD HEI Coil, Taylor 8mm Wires, Leather 96 Camaro SS Seats,
Alpine CD+Changer,Alpine V12 Amps, Premier TS-1040C Subs, Polk Audio highs/mids.
Best ET: 14.94@91.67
High Speed Run: 157mph
WS6 Trans Am

[This message has been edited by Zepher (edited March 27, 2001).]

 

You might want to go get that checked out. Same thing happened to me, I thought that the sensor for the gauge went bad and my oil pressure was still normal. WRONG. I kept driving the car and ended up ruining my ZZ4 motor.

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Jason 92Z28

 

OUCH!


Damn, oil PSI is one of the best indicators of Engine Condition, Do your self a Favor and get a mechanical Gauge, Plumb It In and Learn to Look at it Constantly, Especially when Hard Driving.


As for causes, your lookin at Clogged Filter, Failing sender unit, generally Gummed up oil passages, gimpy pump, Or the scary ones, Loose tolerances, Scratched bearing surfaces, ect.


hopefully, Its something relativly mundane, But at 139K, especially if it was "abused" You could be getting into some problems.

Either way, its NOT something to ignore, figure out the problem as fast as you can.




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60 Ranchero - Project ( Money Hole )
85 Sport Coupe LG4 - Daily Driver

Just another Hot Rod kid, or thats what they all tell me.
Livin' the Stereotype

 

Thanks for the replies.
When you say to use a mechanical gauge, you mean to install one permanently, right?
Where should I connect the gauge? Can I use the same hole the original sender unit is plugged into?

Thanks,

 

The mechanical guage is one of those 15$ ones
like sunpro. Just buy one from Ye olde parts store and follow the instructions inside. With 120k miles on the engine i would personally change my oil pump to a new one. a melling high volume would do wonders for oil pressure.