I was driving home yesterday, and I noticed my gauge dropped to 0 psi. So I pulled over, shut it off, and I checked my oil. Level looked fine, must be the sensor crapping out. (And I figured, well if there's no oil pressure, the motor would've seized by now)

I bought a new sending unit for $22 at Autozone and replaced it. It looks like the gauge is working again, but the old sensor used to make the gauge go up to 80 psi when the oil was cold. I started it up again this morning, and the gauge read a max of 40-45 psi. It does fluxuate all the way to 10 psi when it's hot. Did I buy the wrong sender?

 

change your oil filter, i know when I need to change mine when it drop to 40 all the time. I use them mobil1 hitech filters that cost about 10 bucks with 3-4 magnets stuck to it.

 

I think mines going out to in the camaro. I called my pops, old hot rodder, and he said gm is known for bad sending units. My s10 (2.8l) runs around 40-50 at idle, needing oil change. After oil change 50-55 at idle. Running speeds its around 70-80. Hope them figures help ya.

 

80 is good but it should run fine on 40, maybe not its best but it would not blow up. now less than 30 and I would be stopping.

 

FYI.....mine, a friend91 3.1 camaro, and another friends 91 3.1 'bird all lost their sending unit aroun 105,000 miles. Except mine would peg past 80. Now its at about 70 at startup and 45-50 at idle. 65ish crusing

 

On my motor, I drop to 0 psi all the time- with my mechanical gauge. Only happens when I come to a stop and the engine is warmed up... as soon as I start going again, the oil pressure comes back. I think my clearances are all shot to hell after all these miles, and I need higher RPM's to keep pressure.

 

Ahhh I wish I had not been cheap and bought a new ACDelco one. I think I might have suffered from that FRAM disease. I didn't learn about how bad their filters were until after I put it in. I was already under there last nite, and now I gotta go again!!