You ether buy a mechanical gauge from the store and hook it up where the sending unit is, then run the engine and read what it says.

Or, an easier method, just take it to a mechanic and ask them if they can hook one up, and more than likely they will do it for free and give you a reading.

According to my research, the oil pressure gauges are inaccurate, anywhere from 5 to 10 psi on the LOW side and the pressure sending units can be flaky. I would take it in and confirm the oil PSI with a mechanical gauge and if it shows good readings, just replace the sender and also make sure that the contacts are clean because any bit of insulation on the contacts will cause a lower than normal reading.

There is one for sale right now.

http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...ic.php?t=82502

You could buy it..test and then sell for nearly all your cost.

haynes manual said I needed a handheld tachometer to make the oil pressure reading

Just a fyi, supertech filters are now e-core ones, you know the ones with the plastic inside instead of the metal retainer for the filter material....

id definately not use them anymore.

The only reason i think supertech/ walmart buys their filter from fram and reprint their name is becasue the follow the same code as fram

for the last 2 hrs I read through a lot of posts about low oil pressure identical to my problem ( engine gets to normal temp oil pressure drops to or real close to red at idle) and it seems to be very common for this situation to arrive around 100,000+ miles in 92-99 bonny'* however not one person in the posts i read revealed what fixed this problem. So far all i got was check pressure with mechanical gauge then if pressure on mech. gauge is good then replace sender, however if you find out dash gauge told the truth your bearings are probably bad. The temporary remedy is 15W40 and babying the car. Is what i picked up so far correct. what else to prolong life of engine

Rarely, oil pressure problems can be caused by a weak or stuck spring and/or piston in the oil relief valve assembly located near the oil filter. This happens, but is not common. If the low pressure is caused by wear, run thicker oil, and keep the engine cool. Install a good transmission cooler, make sure your cooling system is in good shape, and install a drilled, 180F thermostat.

What are your PSI readings from the mechanical gauge? Dont trust the gauge in the dash, they are known to be crap.

im going to buy a gauge now i need some tips this is my plan of attack

1.Jack passenger side up put on stand
2. take off wheel well cover to get to oil filter area
3. hook up gauge and make my readings from there
4. My book says to get car up to normal temp
5.Then get car up to 2,400 Rpm
6. Make reading, haynes says at least 37 PSI at 2,400

The book also says as a general rule a car should have ten psi for every 1,000 RPM. If this is true at idle the dash gauge would be near the red all the time. I think haynes manual should have never put that in their repair manual that makes things confusing

Just got done the mechanical reading came out between 55-60 PSI on the mech. gauge at 2,400 RPMS on my dashs Tachometer, at normal operating temp. Now what do you think i should do i have to replace my oil pressure sending unit by default because i broke it taking it off. I'm going to take pics of the unit to see if you guys think it may be bad however i may have messed it up when i tore apart the housing im also going to take some pics of this other sensor just dangling in the area i have to clue were it goes.