hey hows it goin guys? i have a problem. my oil pressure is horrible. when im cruising at about 1750 rpms the pressures around 30 psi which is somewhat close to normal..but, when i come to a stop, it redlines and the needle bounces around and then drops to 0, when i rev it up, it wont raise above 30 psi. there are no oil leaks, i checked the oil level and it is fine, so i can't find out what the problem could be, i won't drive my car till i find out whats wrong and fix it so i was hoping someone could help me, thanks guys

 

Two steps:

1) Install a mechanical oil pressure gage to verify what the oil pressure really is.

2) Replace the oil pressure gage sending unit when you discover you actually have good oil pressure after performing 1).

You could skip 1) and go directly to 2) if you like.

 

okay, ill let it cool off then check the sending unit, but could it be a possibility i have a spun crankbearing

 

its most likely the sending unit just go buy one and put it in they are cheap any way.

 

sure is possible you spun a bearing but it makes more sense to actually cancel out the cheap possibilities before tearing it apart for a rebuild.. and bad sending units are extremely common on 3rd gens so that would be the most logical place to start before pulling the engine.. also keep in mind the stock gauges are far from accurate, by hooking up a mechanical guage you'd actually know what kind of pressure you really have.

 

If he spun a bearing, would't he be able to hear it?

My oil pressure, when the engine is cold, pegs the needle on the gauge.

 

yah i would, and its making a tapping noise when i start the engine, but i think its just a lifter tapping, i still need to check the sending unit, i havn't got to it yet, but that most likly the problem because now its showing pressure is good, but then it f###s up again

 

if the oil pressure took an abnormal plunge, would the service engine light come on? i checked the sending unit and its hooked up good...when these sending units have their problems, what are their symptoms...does the gauge just not work, or does it read incorrectly. so far im thinking its the unit cuzz my engine seems to running fine, just showing low pressure.

 

With the sending units, it's not as much of a matter of hooked up or not as it is, they just "go bad."

Like five7 and the rest said, replace it. And chances are, watch your gauge be "better" or as good as a stock gauge can read.

Bearings make a thunk thunk noise. Valvetrain issues make a tapping noise.

 

yah, wheres the best place to hook up a mechanical guage, isn't there a connection point by the filter and one by the distributor?

 

and one up front by the timing cover.

 

yah, i noticed there was one on one of my buddys blocks above the top of the cover to the right, but there wasn't one in that location on mine