Is my oil pump on its way out?

[KlrSnk]

While driving the 90 last night, I noticed that at stoplights the oil pressure drops to 0 and stays while sitting still, but as soon as I take off it goes right back up to mid ways of 'normal'. Is my oil pump about to go?

 

[cenok is family]

that's what it sounds like. try hooking a mechanical gauge up and see what it says. that way you know for sure it's not the gauge or the pressure switch.

 

[BK_CAULEY]

is the gauge slowly dropping down or does it just fall out. if its just falling out (like mine was) its just the gauge.

 

[KlrSnk]

is the gauge slowly dropping down or does it just fall out. if its just falling out (like mine was) its just the gauge.

Its just falling out, goes from middle ways of normal to below 0 in no time. I hope its just the gauge..i need a new gauge cluster anyways, the tach doesnt work.

 

[BK_CAULEY]

Its just falling out, goes from middle ways of normal to below 0 in no time. I hope its just the gauge..i need a new gauge cluster anyways, the tach doesnt work.

i personally think the gauge is your problem. mine was doing the same thing. and IMO the oil pressure couldnt drop that fast anyways. it would slowly drop. but test it to make sure befroe driving it anymore.

 

[795.0pacecar]

Hook up a good gauge first. Usually when an oil pump goes out it goes out completely. Low oil pressure is a sign of worn bearings.

 

[NKau]

Hook up a good gauge first. Usually when an oil pump goes out it goes out completely. Low oil pressure is a sign of worn bearings.

Yep. If a good gauge tells you that you are below 10 psi oil pressure at idle, you probably want to rebuild. As mentioned, usually when an oil pump 'goes bad' it will just lock up, and you will get no oil pressure period.

 

[Bronco_Guy]

KlrSnk,

I had a similar problem where my oil pressure gauge would drop to near nuthin' when at a stop, but rise back up when the rpm's increased. Based on my findings here, I took off the push-on connector to the oil pressure sender and cleaned it along with the post on the sender...bingo -- problem solved.

This is a very simple thing to do, and might save you a lot of grief.

Good luck!

 

[OonDeanisS]

I have a mechanical autometer oil pressure gauge and mine has been dropping to about 23psi at idle recently, is this horrible or can i drive without worrying?

 

[SuperStang83]

23psi isn't terrible, but about 20 is the lowest it should go at idle.

 

[SuperStang83]

I agree with everyone, I was having the same problem and switched out to an autometer gauge. It is all better now.

 

[NKau]

I have a mechanical autometer oil pressure gauge and mine has been dropping to about 23psi at idle recently, is this horrible or can i drive without worrying?

That's just fine. The general rule is 10 psi per 1,000 rpm. 5.0's will run forever under normal driving w/ 20 psi at idle. It's the 20 psi at 5,000 rpm that hurts things.