So I noticed when I recently had my oil changed that now my pressure gauge moves more when I accelerate. The same 10W-30 oil was used, however, this time it wasn't Max Life as I used in the past 2 oil changes. When running the Max Life oil, I noticed the pressure didn't change as much [even when accelerating] and just hovered around the "40" mark.

Is this normal? Was it bad that the oil pressure gauge wasn't moving as much with the Max Life oil, and it should've been moving like it is now with the regular oil? Was the Max Life oil too "thick?" Just curious. The car is approaching 115K.

What do you see for pressure while driving now?

40 psi is good for idling pressure while in gear. It'* also ok to get to closer to 30 psi at idle on a very hot summer day.

Usually driving you should see 60 psi. I have never been below 60 while driving (I use Mobil 1 FWIW). At certain times, driving up hill, especially when not fully warmed up, I have crept to 70psi or a bit above. I don't like seeing it get that high, but I don't think it'* that bad.

If you're at 60 while driving and 40 at idle you're doing great. I don't really think you need Max Life oil anyway. Use regular oil and change it every 3000 (or 4-5000 with synthetic) and you'll be just fine.

When driving, the gauge will actually move from around 40 to the next bold mark [I guess that'* 60], but I don't recall it actually reaching it. Before, it would just hover around 40 - not moving far from it even when driving.

I surmise a more "responsive" oil pressure needle is indicative of better oil flow through the system. Thicker oil, moving slower, of course will not allow the oil flow to fluctuate as much. I've seen this very same thing in my Vette the few times I've alternated between standard 5w-30 dino oil and the higher flow rate 5w-30 synthetic.

Thicker oil will build more pressure in the system than thinner.....Kinda like people that don't change their oil until the oil pressure guage starts reading lower than what they like. You'll be fine as long as you have more than like 20 psi....

I think the sending unit is going faulty because I had the rear jacked up this weekend [to do rotors], and now the gauge is behaving the same way it was before the oil was changed [just hovering around the 40 mark - to the left during idle - to the right when driving].