Well,

I changed my oil yesterday at JiffyLube and they put in 10-30 penzoil and a new filter. On the document i got it said they put 4 quarts oil. I think to my self that does not seem right for a 5L V8. Is it correct?

Ever since that oil change my pressure is way down. So low it is scarry. If am in neutral and put it in drive the presure drop to ZERO !!! Then works its way up to about 15-20 PSI. (When engine warm)

If


I did NOT have that problem prior to the oil change, so I am puzzled

What can cause oil pressure to be so low?

Please help

Sam

 

umm have you checked the oil since the oil change ???

if not id suggest it and then your probably gonna see that your a quart low .....

 

being a little low on oil is not going to make your pressure drop that low... if i were you id replace the oil pressure sending unit then if the problem is still there then id be scared... but my guess is that your sending unit is ****ting the bed man.... mine has done the same exact thing to me on all 3 camaros that i have oned in the past...

 

I second the oil pressure sender. If you're really that worried, go to autozone and buy a $15 mechanical pressure guage. And yes it's supposed to take 5 quarts, check the dipstick. Finally, why pay jiffylube to do what you can do yourself.

P.S. If you really had 0 pressure, you would know it.

 

Hi,

Well, as far as the oil level it is hard to tell since it is so transparent but it seems to be at the full mark.

So if i really did get as low as zero the engine would have shut down?

Sam

 

i would get a mechanical gauge and see what is actually going on ...

 

well i also have a problem with my oil pressure guage after a lil race ....it goes crazy up and down i had the o-rings replaced on the sending unit....it worked okay till i gave it some gas....now it does it again...should i be worried . i still drive it and it runs okay ....shop told me it had to be replaced but low on funds

p.s. beat that stang in da 1/4 but tpi runs out of steam in top end

 

Yes... and not in a happy, just restart it and go type way.

 

I bought a pressure sending unit but i cant see it on the engine with the hood open... Do I need to go under the car inorder to install it?


Before i do change it i want to know from those who have changed and as a result solved the problem. Was your meter acting funny, eratic shifting left right? or was it moving steady prior to the change? I was told by the mechanic that if it moves slowly then nothing is wrong with it...


I am assuming that it is more probably the oil. lower viscosity than what the previouse owner had put in it. I used 10-30 What do you guys use?

Thanks,

Sam

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...+unit+location

 

Early style sender were 'bell' shaped and next to the distributor (drivers side). They had a single wire.
Newer style was intergrated into the oil pressure switch located just above the oil filter. It has 3 wires.

My '91 has the newer style and when I bought the car, oil psi was 40ish on a cold start and would drop to nil after about 1-2 miles. A replacment sender later and the car is running 55psi cold and 30-50psi at operating temp.

 

Well,

I have now replaced the presure sending unit and that did not change anything other thatn that it does not drop all the way to zero. instead it is constantly at 15 PSI when in neutral or in gear. (stoped) while driving it is about 28-32.

So I want to know then what oil some of you use in your 86-89 V8. It can be no other thing then the different oil i used.

Thanks,

Sam

 

_

 

I would buy a new gauge if i could afford one at the moment... dont they run at about 40 50 bucks? Knowing it is not the sensor leaves the actual gauge that can be faulty or even the engine...


However, it no longer goes to zero even with the foot on brake and in gear. 15 is the lowest it goes.

I would rather have a working gauge in the original position than mounting one by the window...

Sam

 

The guage will be about 15 dollars. Don't leave it connected after the test to avoid a potential oil leak. You would only be using it as a diagnostic tool. It's better to lose 15 dollars buying a guage than buying an oil pan gasket and having to hoist the engine and all the other stuff involved in an unnecessary oil pump change. I think 15 is too low, but I'm not an expert on where oil pressure becomes dangerously low.

 

well i finally fixed my car from over heatin ...fan relay .....but after checkin da thermostat first and breakin a bolt ....but yeah i said my oil gauge was eratic going up and down....but now its steady at 15 also and goes down to zero sometimes when at a stoplight....but even addin oil doesnt change it...maybe time for an oil change & filter .....but i also have to replace sendin unit from what i was told by the shop.....it still goes up and down wild..but it usually never went down 30...but now i guess replacing oil sendin unit and possibly oil pump might be some new experience....by the way SAM does your car make a suckin noise when you hear the engine idling ? ??? cause mine does and sounds like its in da rear of the block

 

I agree that 15 might be low but i dont worry about it much since it jumps to about 30 while driving.

Rudyt5000, I have not heard such a noise it sounds like everything is working okay. No strange sounds. By the way mine stoped going down to zero. keep us uppdated if you get it sorted out

Sam