Oil pressure issue?

[Tommio RS]

Hey everyone, I come with a simple question.
Is it normal to have oil gauge behavior like this.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdnvnwBwlhw


The situation is when warm like coolant temp is 90c and the oil temp is over 50c or so the gauge will dance around like in the video. This only started happening more and more as last year. When the cars oil and coolant are at the same temp around 90c the oil pressure gauge will sit half way between half and 0, so 20psi at idle. The moment your tap the gas the gauge will shot up over half if not to the max and stay the way when driving. I have NO clue if that is normal oil pressure or not. I will say though. When i 1st bough the car 3 years ago the engine oil was no joke some sort of thick goo like gear lube. Since then i have ONLY ran Amsoil 10w40 AMO.


My best guesses are the sensor to the gauge in the car could be on it way out, the gauge cluster could have some error, the engine does not like the amsoil 10w40 amo OR worst cause is oil pump/ internal bearing clearance issues.

[dredgeguy]

Mine does the same. When I am on the gas pressure is high and when idling it is in the middle.

[aod]

Your oil pressure sensor may be on its way out. Remove the connector and see if there is oil in there. If so, it is definitely on its way out. You can get a replacement here:

https://www.jerrysgaskets.com/sensor-oil-pressure-guage-3-terminal-new-90-95-9c5/

A basin wrench makes this job easier.

[32valvesftw]

I have a Jeep that was doing that, the fluctuations increased until I smelled oil and noticed oil seeping from the sensor. So yeah, check that sensor.

[Tommio RS]

OK! That's all some really good information.

So my engine is not going to blow up thank goodness!

So its not the end of the world seeing the gauge in the middle of 0 and 1/2!

So what im going to check out is the oil pressure gauge sensor connector and see if there is oil inside the connector and the sensor body. And you say a basin wrench will make life easier lol, like for plumbing?. I guess you cant just jam a deep socket over the entire sensor and un bolt it?

[aod]

With no load on the engine, idling my oil pressure gauge reads right in the middle when it is at operating temp, so I don't think that's a big deal. What I noticed was the needle on yours was bouncing around a bit. That's indicative of a sensor on the way out. And yeah, the basin wrench is for plumbing. It has been a while since I replaced mine, but I don't think a deep socket would have fit over it. I scratched my head for a bit and then just grabbed a basin wrench and tightened it up. It has been good for around 10 years now. :)

[Tommio RS]

Ok, I removed the oil pressure sensor connector and checked for oil. I didn't see any what so ever in the connector or switch. So i will just replace the sensor just because. Also its a 3 pin connector with one wire? I guess it ground through the engine or something.

Also don't they make a socket for just such a job?

https://www.amazon.com/Lisle-13250-Pressure-Switch-Socket/dp/B0002SR2RY

That is just one of many i have found.

[TX '90 ZR1]

Ok, I removed the oil pressure sensor connector and checked for oil. I didn't see any what so ever in the connector or switch. So i will just replace the sensor just because. Also its a 3 pin connector with one wire? I guess it ground through the engine or something.

Also don't they make a socket for just such a job?

https://www.amazon.com/Lisle-13250-Pressure-Switch-Socket/dp/B0002SR2RY

That is just one of many i have found.

Yes, there are sockets that are designed to remove sensors. Most auto parts stores will have one.
:cheers:

[aod]

I have one of the oil pressure switch sockets like the one in that link. Mine isn't deep enough to get this specific sensor out though.

[Jagdpanzer]

Here is the one that'll do it
15663
15664


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[1990ZR1#1012]

New Member with a '90 ZR1#1012 with just over 31k miles on it. Just took ownership three days ago and have been driving it and getting acquainted when I had this oil pressure gauge skyrocketing issue occur while on the way home from work yesterday.

Did a ton of research on the vehicle (a lot of it here) and test drove it twice prior to purchase. Very grateful to have this place as a resource. Have a feeling I'll be spending a lot of time here as I drive it and work on it as things happen.