cool whip

iTrader: (1)

About a week ago I was idling in the drive through at McDonald's. I noticed my oil gauge was bouncing back and forth about 1/8 of an inch. The level was also quite a bit lower than it had been a few weeks before when I changed the oil. When I put the car in park, the gauge went up a little bit, but still a bit low. When I got back on the road and reached cruising speed, it went back to normal. It's been doing this ever since. It's only when idling that it drops and bounces around. Any thoughts on what to check?

witry

iTrader: (8)

sending unit most likely i have the same problem im changing mine next week when i do my valve springs

Blazingz28

iTrader: (5)

I was told it was normal, I just changed my oil and now it doesn't do it. Not sure. Mine used to bounce like crazy i got a camera vid of it.. look the same ?

cool whip

iTrader: (1)

Mine doesn't bounce quite as much as in that vid, but it bounces right at that level. It didn't do that prior to last week. As long as it's not something really bad like a leak buried somewhere deep in the recesses of the engine.

Blazingz28

iTrader: (5)

Well I either have a rear main seal leak, or oil pan gasket, as I lose half a qt.- a qt each oil change

Blackhawk777

Mine does that, not to that extreme though. I DO have a rear main seal leak so go figure

Black 99 Bird

iTrader: (31)

No leakes on mine, but mine will go up sharply 15 to 20 pounds and stop, then drop down sharply 15 to 20 pounds and stop. When it stop it is steady, no movement at idle or cruise. The car does this while idling and cruising.

Blackhawk777

Now that's bizarre.... I leave it at as long as there is at least 25 psi, it's fine. Never has dropped below that and I've had oil the equivalent of chocolate syrup in there before.

chevrunner21

iTrader: (1)

mine bounces at idle like 3lbs back and forth but once the rpms come up its steady.25 seems low to me im right around 40lbs at idle +-3.

witry

iTrader: (8)

m6 cars are usually around 35 to 40 and a4 around 25 to 30 at HOT idle thats what ive seen on alot of my friends cars and like mine i have a built tranny n stall its at like 25 HOT but idles at 450 with the stall and tranny but as soon as you tap the throttle back up to 35 to 40 at like around 1k rpms... i needed it retuned

SuperSport

i've got the bounce. Had the sending unit replaced to cure it and that worked for about a month. No leaks, no other problems. Only at idle while in Drive. As long as it has pressure, I'm just gonna go with it. Had an old Grand Am that did the same thing.

Blackhawk777

I think it's just a GM thing. My old 94 S-10 and my current 98 blazer do the EXACT same thing. It's ******* bizarre.

needadvice

If your stock and not spinning a badass stroker motor to high rpm's, pretty much any amount of oil pressure is sufficient. If your showing at least 15-20 psi at all times, your good.