Re: oil pressure, uneven running..

[greg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

On Tue, 5 Aug 2003, James Montebello wrote:

> On Wed, 6 Aug 2003 greg@domain.elided wrote:
> > 2> The oil pressure has me worried. I'm going to change the oil at first
> > opportunity, and possibly run a flush through, and check it with fresh oil
> > since this oil is about the time to be changed.
>
> Could also just be your oil pressure sender is dying.  Check the pressure
> with a calibrated gauge before panicking.  If you're getting >50psi of
> pressure at speed, everything is probably fine.

Normally I do have >50 (on the spider's guage) at speed. Today at speed it
appeared to be no more than ~40 (if this were a gas guage and 57 was the
middle or half tank, then it would be readinab about 1/3).

At first I suspected the pressure guage, however, it is my understanding
that the guage and the low-pressure light sensor are two separate items.
If that is the case, I have a hard time thinking both would read low
pressures at the same time. It is the combination of the pressure light at
idle being solidly lit (and flickering if I barely raise the idle speed)
with the reduced pressure on the oil guage that has me concerned and
prompted my questions.

> > 3> Is it normal to need to wait a few minutes after turning the engine off
> > to get a really good and accurate reading on the dipstick? The difference
> > between checking immediately after turning the engine off and about 5
> > minutes later can be a quart to a quart and a half.
>
> Yes.  ...


Thanks for the information. I will be taking a much closer look at the car
tomorrow and hopefully all this will turn out to be nothing or at least
something simple. I'd rather be overreacting than find out I've got major
problems. :)

Greg
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