Oil Pressure Gauge
#1
Member
Posts like a V-Tak
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oil Pressure Gauge
I've been noticing that my oil pressure gauge is getting close to 0. When the engine is on,the needle is positioned at about 1/3. When I press the brake, the needle moves to the left. What is going on?
#2
DINOSAURUS BOOSTUS
Expert Gearhead
There could be a number of things happening.
Do you change the oil yourself, if so..have you noticed any silver/gray pigmentation to the oil?
This would possibly mean the oil pressure gauge is right and your main bearings are going bad. There might also be a deep knocking sound from the lower motor once you are up to temp.... any of that?
I would recommend having it tested with a mechanical gauge for accuracy. If the gauge or sender is bad...it is possible that you are getting the low reading. However...it is typically our experience that a bad sender indicates a high or pegged high reading.
How many miles on the car?
Do you change the oil yourself, if so..have you noticed any silver/gray pigmentation to the oil?
This would possibly mean the oil pressure gauge is right and your main bearings are going bad. There might also be a deep knocking sound from the lower motor once you are up to temp.... any of that?
I would recommend having it tested with a mechanical gauge for accuracy. If the gauge or sender is bad...it is possible that you are getting the low reading. However...it is typically our experience that a bad sender indicates a high or pegged high reading.
How many miles on the car?
#5
Member
Posts like a V-Tak
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This is a new engine i just had put in. The engine runs great. no problem. I just checked with my mechanic and he put on a new oil pressure switch. He said everything was fine. It has plenty of oil. Could we be dealing with a flaky electronic gauge on the cluster?
#6
Senior Member
Posts like a Camaro
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Chi-Town
Posts: 1,116
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by PogiGreg
This is a new engine i just had put in. The engine runs great. no problem. I just checked with my mechanic and he put on a new oil pressure switch. He said everything was fine. It has plenty of oil. Could we be dealing with a flaky electronic gauge on the cluster?
Its reasonable to assume that the contacts for the oil pressure gauge are dirty or corroded. With the way AllData describes how it works, the lower the oil pressure, the greater the resistance, thus resisting current flow to the gauge. If you got something on the contacts thats resisting current flow, you will get a lower than normal oil pressure reading.
This oil pressure indicating system incorporates an instrument voltage regulator, electrical oil pressure gauge and a sending unit which are connected in series. The sending unit consists of a diaphragm, contact and a variable resistor. As oil pressure increases or decreases, the diaphragm actuated the contact on the variable resistor, in turn controlling current flow through the gauge. When oil pressure is low, the resistance of the variable resistor is high, restricting current flow to the gauge, in turn indicating low oil pressure. As oil pressure increases, the resistance of the variable resistor is lowered, permitting an increased current flow to the gauge, resulting in an increased gauge reading.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post