Turbo on - No oil pressure??

[NO_RICE]

I finally got my car started again, the problem is that my oil pressure gauge reads below 0 when the car is off and jumps just slightly over zero when the car is started. I have tried several things so far:

- double checked the lines on my oil filter relocation kit

- disconnected the turbo feed line to see if oil was making it to the turbo

- jumpered a ground from the body of the sending unit to the frame

- grounded input wire on the gauge to make sure the gauge works

How often do sending units go bad? It doesn't sound like there is any lack of oil,(valve train noise) but then again I only have a 3' downpipe and Im not sure I would be able to hear it over the exhaust anyway. Are there any other things I should try? I really don't want to just assume everything is ok and have my motor seize on me.

just for kicks heres a picture

 

[68FBJJZ109]

I can think of anything else to check, if there is no valve train noise and your turbo is getting oil, then you have more then 0 psi or slightly above it. I believe a turbo only needs like 20-25 psi of oil pressure to supply itself, thats a indication if your getting oil to the turbo. how much is a oil pressure sending unit? its prob worth just swapping it out to see if it reads the same, take it back. i went with a manual oil pressure gauge. and ditched the stock gauge cluster because i had issues from before i turboed mine.

 

[68FBJJZ109]

Also you may want to get a turbo blanket, or a heat shield. if you have no plans of moving it. My turbo is in roughly the same spot and fried my bearings in the alternator. My buddy is currently swapping it over to the other side for my since i am not in PA currently.

 

[2000xp8]

Get a mechanical oil pressure gauge. Try to get a full sweep gauge, they are a bit easier to read.
Heavily modified cars need real gauges for water temp and oil pressure.

 

[NO_RICE]

I have the 3 gauge pillar, with electric autometer gauges, I am going to get a factory replacement sending unit and reconnect the factory gauge just to see if I really do have oil pressure, then I will order a new sending unit for my autometer gauge. I hate to use a manual gauge because I don't like the idea of having oil spill inside the car

 

[HISSIN50]

The stock sender (for a 94-95 GT) reads in the middle if you have more than 6 PSI and it reads zero if you have less. Don't bother with it or any interpolation of it.

As noted, I would grab a $15 mech gauge just to hook up under the hood for diagnostics (it'll just sit on top of the engine bay while you figure out what's going on).

I'd drop you off a spare mech gauge but I can't find any right now (I cleaned the garage awhile back ).

 

[2000xp8]

I have the 3 gauge pillar, with electric autometer gauges, I am going to get a factory replacement sending unit and reconnect the factory gauge just to see if I really do have oil pressure, then I will order a new sending unit for my autometer gauge. I hate to use a manual gauge because I don't like the idea of having oil spill inside the car

I understand the concern for oil in the car, but you just have to buy a better line than the plastic one that comes with the gauge.
Me personally, i don't trust gauges with sending units.

 

[NO_RICE]

The stock sender (for a 94-95 GT) reads in the middle if you have more than 6 PSI and it reads zero if you have less. Don't bother with it or any interpolation of it.

As noted, I would grab a $15 mech gauge just to hook up under the hood for diagnostics (it'll just sit on top of the engine bay while you figure out what's going on).

I'd drop you off a spare mech gauge but I can't find any right now (I cleaned the garage awhile back ).

I took my fuel pressure gauge off and put it where the sending unit was, it read 45 psi at idle, so Im happy now, I might just buy a mechanical gauge since it is only about $15 more than a new sending unit.

I just need to fabricate the piping from the downpipe to the h pipe and I can get this thing back on the road, passing emissions might be a little tricky, but it has all the emissions equipment, so as long as it passes the sniffer I should be good to go.