sudden drop in oil pressure??? what could cause this

90lxcoupe

Dirt-Old 20+Year Member

Oct 7, 2003

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Jul 26, 2005

#1

• Jul 26, 2005

• #1

ok i just got my car back on the road today and i took it to a local cruise night and it was running great, no problems at all. when i left there i went to my buddys house and romped on it throught first and second gear and the next time i looked at my oil pressure it was down to about 35 to 40 and when i was driving it was around 60. but before that it was at a little ove 50 at idle and a little over 75 when i was cruising around. what could cause this problem?? if it helps this is the first time ive driven the car more than just around the block since i put the supercharger on it and i've been trying to keep the rpms below 5300

 

maverick0716

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Jan 12, 2002

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Chilliwack, BC, Canada

Jul 26, 2005

#2

• Jul 26, 2005

• #2

One possibility is you oil sender unit is starting to go bad....a similar thing happened to me. I would be driving and the oil pressure seemed fine, then when I was at a stop and the car was idling, the guage would slowly drop in pressure all the way to 0.....stressful, I tell ya I ended up replacing the sender and it turned out it was the problem.

 

T

tjm73

Founding Member

Aug 3, 2000

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Rush, NY

Jul 26, 2005

#3

• Jul 26, 2005

• #3

Could have spun a bearing?

 

J

jaackal

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May 12, 2003

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NJ

Jul 26, 2005

#4

• Jul 26, 2005

• #4

doesnt oil pressure drop a little once its heated up and flowing?

 

Euphoric306

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Apr 5, 2004

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Jul 27, 2005

#5

• Jul 27, 2005

• #5

jaackal said:

doesnt oil pressure drop a little once its heated up and flowing?

Click to expand...

good point

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

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Jul 27, 2005

#6

• Jul 27, 2005

• #6

Have you driven it just like this before (same amount of time, same conditions, etc)?

Otherwise, I am with Jaackal. Between a romp, warmer temps (vs winter) and a blower, you can heat the oil up a bit.

Good luck.

 

bmo37

Founding Member

Jun 27, 2001

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New Jersey

Jul 27, 2005

#7

• Jul 27, 2005

• #7

maverick0716 said:

One possibility is you oil sender unit is starting to go bad....a similar thing happened to me. I would be driving and the oil pressure seemed fine, then when I was at a stop and the car was idling, the guage would slowly drop in pressure all the way to 0.....stressful, I tell ya I ended up replacing the sender and it turned out it was the problem.

Click to expand...

had the same probelm i would sit at a light when idling and the oil pressure guage would dancing up and down, change dthe oil pressure sending with and ran new wire and see was back to normal.

 

T

tjm73

Founding Member

Aug 3, 2000

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Rush, NY

Jul 27, 2005

#8

• Jul 27, 2005

• #8

I paid close attention to my car today and when I started it this morning it idles at about 60 psi and it climbed to about 64 psi at 3000rpm. Once it was warm it settled to about 50-52 psi. When I got off the expressway it idled at about 40 psi. Those are pretty normal. Nothing to worry about IMO.

I have a mechanical gauge BTW.

 

1

1990LXDropTop

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Dec 4, 2003

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Western Massachusetts

Jul 27, 2005

#9

• Jul 27, 2005

• #9

When my car is warm I get about 25-35psi at idle and 50-55psi when driving. No problems.

 

Euphoric306

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Apr 5, 2004

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Jul 27, 2005

#10

• Jul 27, 2005

• #10

specs say 45-60 psi @ 2000 rpm

 

1988WHTGT

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Mar 31, 2005

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Guyton, GA

Jul 27, 2005

#11

• Jul 27, 2005

• #11

My car would go to zero everytime I would get on it after I rebuilt the motor....scared the crap out of me....then found out the wire that goes onto the send unit was a little loose and wouldn't make contact all the time

 

1

1990LXDropTop

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Dec 4, 2003

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Western Massachusetts

Jul 27, 2005

#12

• Jul 27, 2005

• #12

I'd say as long as it stays above 25psi at warm idle, and raises as the rpms increase, then you are fine...

 

90lxcoupe

Dirt-Old 20+Year Member

Oct 7, 2003

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Jul 27, 2005

#13

• Jul 27, 2005

• #13

tjm73 said:

Could have spun a bearing?

Click to expand...

why would you say spun bearing and would i be able to hear it in the motor at all