High oil pressure.. Cause for alarm?

[ShiftTheDrift]

In my case, I've always watched my instruments and a couple days ago I noticed that the oil pressure gauge was reading a little higher than usual.

As you all know, the gauge has the word "Normal" and before I noticed the higher reading, the needle would always be at the base of "A". It's now on the base of "L".

My engine temperature gauge is reading at the middle of "N". Any ideas on what could cause this?

Thanks.

 

[Rootus]

The factory gauge does not measure pressure, it is a glorified idiot light. Gauge malfunctions are almost always electrical in nature.

Dave

 

[HISSIN50]

Dave is right on. if you dont want full time aftermarket gauges, i would atleast hook up a mech oil pressure gauge to see what is going on. you can hook it up under the hood for testing.

good luck.

 

[ShiftTheDrift]

So you guys don't think there's any cause for concern?

 

[mo_dingo]

So you guys don't think there's any cause for concern?

Nope. Don't worry about it.
Scott

 

[HISSIN50]

So you guys don't think there's any cause for concern?

depends on who you ask. when i know a gauge is inaccurate, be it high or low, i am not comfy with that. if it is artificially high, how will you know if pressure drops (it most likely wont reflect this drop accurately, as it is not calibrated [using that term loosely for a factory gauge. ]).
i would not feel cool with it unless i had a real gauge in there, but that is just me.

good luck.

 

[DarkMesa8]

Yes, it should be cause for a slight alarm, but it has NOTHING to do with oil pressure.

The factory gauges are voltage reliant. If the voltage starts to get low, around 12 volts or less when the car is running, the gauges will be affected. When I start my car, the gauges read as usual, but when the fan comes on the coolant temp and oil pressure gauge jump a letter or two. As the alternator gets hotter, they may jump another letter.

My alternator is pretty beat, so my situation is extreme, but it is a drop in voltage.

 

[Rootus]

Back when I had my 94 GT, my temperature gauge and oil pressure gauge would both peg. Dealer replaced the radiator twice before finally listening to me -- I told them it was showing low voltage, and that it was not actually overheating or having high oil pressure, and that occasionally the tach would twitch. Turns out the battery ground was cracked. Within a few months all of my buddies had exactly the same problem (these were all 94 GT's, and this was back when they were about a year old).

One thing to remember about the oil pressure gauge is that it takes 6 psi to trigger it. By the time you get down to 6 psi, you are already killing the motor, even at idle. So all it really does is say "You're ****ed, you're ****ed, you're ****ed..."

Dave

 

[Slow5.0]

Ours stock gauge sux, all of them
BTW Better high than low oil pressure