Oil pressure question

nunly94gt

Founding Member

Feb 3, 2002

1,595

3

38

Mobile, Al

Mar 17, 2009

#1

• Mar 17, 2009

• #1

When driving last night in my 88gt with 100k on it The oil pressure dropped out on the gauge. It only happens when the car is idling. When Im moving or reving it is fine and runs around the "M" in normal. At idle it shoots below the gauge and you can hear it flicker.
Should this be something serious or is the gauge/sending unit screwed? I plan on putting mechanical gauges in the car soon anyways. Just some thoughts please.

 

DocG

5th graders > me. They're not bant

Sep 25, 2005

8,297

1,358

194

Cincinnati area

Mar 17, 2009

#2

• Mar 17, 2009

• #2

I was going to recommend a higher quality gauge but it sounds like you have that planned. Mine runs at like 50 at idle.

Assuming your oil level is ok and no major leaks? Oil pump possibly going bad.....not able to pump enough at idle.

 

BlownFiveLiter

have car, will race....wait, it doesn't run

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

3,133

18

108

Chicagoland

Mar 17, 2009

#3

• Mar 17, 2009

• #3

It's probably the oil pressure sending unit. My 95's done that for years on two different engines. Never got around to replacing it I guess, even though I've had it off on a couple of different occasions.

 

hotcobra03

Active Member

Nov 29, 1999

969

4

39

poteet,tx

Mar 17, 2009

#4

• Mar 17, 2009

• #4

oil pressure

fwiw ive had some of my fords do that,,they were both ford v8s but acouple of years older70`s...all of mine also made a tinging noise(like something ratteling)when slowing down,,,,so my guess would be oil pump.shaft/dizzy....something in that area,,

 

nunly94gt

Founding Member

Feb 3, 2002

1,595

3

38

Mobile, Al

Mar 17, 2009

#5

• Mar 17, 2009

• #5

ok.....Ill stick a good gauge on there and make sure I have good PSI.
The level is fine and there are no leaks anywhere. I am hoping its the sending unit for now I dont want to do an oil pump just yet.

 

8

87pony

Member

Oct 14, 2004

69

0

6

Mar 17, 2009

#6

• Mar 17, 2009

• #6

Main bearings can also be a cause of this.

 

dcurtis

10 Year Member

Jan 19, 2006

688

7

39

Mar 17, 2009

#7

• Mar 17, 2009

• #7

I'd say change the sending unit first, I just changed mine last week due to my gauge dropping out of range at idle, turns out it was just the sending unit going bad

 

BlownFiveLiter

have car, will race....wait, it doesn't run

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

3,133

18

108

Chicagoland

Mar 17, 2009

#8

• Mar 17, 2009

• #8

Check your engine to frame grounds while you're in there. The little ground strap that runs to the firewall, as well as the one to the frame. They're well known to cause all kinds of gremlins that you could be chasing around, so before you start chasing your tail, it may very well just be one of those, too.

 

1987stangman

Member

Jul 12, 2006

684

24

19

Mar 17, 2009

#9

• Mar 17, 2009

• #9

dcurtis said:

I'd say change the sending unit first, I just changed mine last week due to my gauge dropping out of range at idle, turns out it was just the sending unit going bad

Click to expand...

I agree! Whats the point in goofing up the inside of the car with yet another gauge!?? The sending units is like 14 bucks if I remember right. I would assume that if you had oil issue like your gauge is "thinking" then the engine would let you know in the form of NOISE.

 

8

88mustang92

Member

Mar 1, 2008

105

0

16

Mar 18, 2009

#10

• Mar 18, 2009

• #10

IMO, get a mechanical guage, i do not trust the factory oil pressure guage, i once read about 60psi oil pressure and the rockers were ticking n they were dry on top... Go mechanical

 

nunly94gt

Founding Member

Feb 3, 2002

1,595

3

38

Mobile, Al

Mar 19, 2009

#11

• Mar 19, 2009

• #11

I do agree with the mechanical gauge. I hate electrical and atleast with a manual I know oil is getting to it.