I just bought an 89 formula and my oil pressure guage doesn't seem to be working. I hope its not working but from the behavior I think it might be a bad guage.

This is what happens. The guage only goes to 60. When I start the car it stays at about 30 but it tends to kinda move around a little. When I give it gas or turn on the heater or airconditioner it shoots up a little past 60. It jumps really fast like its spring loaded and its been released and snapped to 60. Its really weird. The car still drives fine as far as I can tell. I got it up to 100mph with little effort last night when I took it out. Is this just a faulty guage or should I be worried?

 

Try replacing the sender.

 

I have the same problem in mine. It will jump around a bit no matter what. Like
Stekman said, try replacing the sender.

 

Where is the sender? Is it hard to get to?

 

On yours, it is probably located just above the oil filter.

 

Could it be that the oil pressure is just flucuating...mine is at about 60 at startup....30 at normal idle and as high as 60 again when acclerating ...thought this was normal..every car ive seen flucuates oil pressure....


unles the needle is sticking and it takes that higher pressure...to "spring it forward" as u put it

 

Maybe it is normal. I'm not sure. I also have a 89 Firebird with a V6 and the oil pressure guage goes up to 80. It usually stays around 60 but its not as jerky when the needle moves. Its smoother. With my Formula it jumps real fast almost like its missing some sort of tension spring on one side or something. I don't know what to think of it.

I'll check the sender and see if that helps. Like I said the car still drives fine and seems to be ok. I just get paranoid when it comes to my cars and the needle just didn't seem to be behaving quite right.

 

If it near instantaneously jumps to the pegged position, I am willing to bet its the sender. Oil pressure cannot be built that quickly, especially if you're at idle and then hit it.

 

Quick question. Would all the oil sending units happen to be the same? I have a V6 Firebird that I could pull one from just to test in the Formula if they are the same.

 

60 or 80 psi gauge. If both are the same PSI, then sure.

Just run to the store and pick up a replacement. They are like $20 or less.

 

One's a 60 and one's an 80. I guess I'll have to go get one. Thanks for the help.