Oil pressure questions..
Oil pressure questions.. I have a 94 Formula. I changed the oil over the weekend, and since then, my oil pressure has dropped. Before I changed it, it was about 30-35 at idle, and now its about 17-18. It will sometimes jump up and down 3-4psi too. What could be causing this? Is it anything serious or something I should worry about? I bought it over the summer, and this was the first oil change I have done on it. I used a high milage oil too.
Thanks,
- Mike
Thanks,
- Mike
Just use mobile one 10-30 or 5-30, your choice. Highmileage stuff is a marketing ploy.
the previouse owner could have used some heavier weight oil to thickin it up and bump up oil pressure for the sale. Who knows.
How many miles are on the engine? What temp does it run at.
Also the gauges on these cars are unreliable (So I hear). hook up as master gauge or a mechanical gauge to see whats really going on.
the previouse owner could have used some heavier weight oil to thickin it up and bump up oil pressure for the sale. Who knows.
How many miles are on the engine? What temp does it run at.
Also the gauges on these cars are unreliable (So I hear). hook up as master gauge or a mechanical gauge to see whats really going on.
17-18 is a bit on the low side man. What oil did you go with? I highly recommend pre-filling your oil filter with oil before you install it supply the motor with a quick burst of oil rather than air. What does it look like at cruising rpms (1,500 to 3,000)? Get a real psi gauge on the motor and monitor it there since the sending unit and gauge may be on there way out. You can get one that works fine for $10 at Harbor Freight. The location to check at is just above your oil filter and there is a small plug in its place if it's a 94 I believe. The 93 cars sending unit is actually located there...
On The Tree
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 126
Likes: 1
From: Paso Robles, CA
My typical oil pressure according to the stock gauge is 55 at cold start,40-50 at operating temp cruising,20ish at operating temp idle,55-60 at operating temp WOT.I think those readings are within tolerances?
That is with 10w-40 valvoline premium conventional and an AC Delco filter.I had higher oil pressure with 10w-40 valvoline max life synthetic blend at operating temps,but I think that was because I overfilled it a little bit with that stuff
.I went back to dino oil cause synthetic likes to seap through my gaskets 
That is with 10w-40 valvoline premium conventional and an AC Delco filter.I had higher oil pressure with 10w-40 valvoline max life synthetic blend at operating temps,but I think that was because I overfilled it a little bit with that stuff
.I went back to dino oil cause synthetic likes to seap through my gaskets Trending Topics
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Brett Foote Thanks,
- Mike
ALSO JUST FOR REFERENCE MY MECHANIC TOLD ME A SAFE WAY TO CHECK YOUR OIL PRESSURE IS TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE 1 PSI OF OIL PRESSURE PER 100 RPMS.
SO AT SAY 800RPMS YOU SHOULD HAVE NEAR 8 PSI OF OIL PRESSURE.
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
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From: Decatur, TN (N-W of Athens)
Man, I'm surprised no Veterans have chimed in. 15-20 at warm idle is NORMAL for a stock LT1. Just like 225-235F for running temperature (which is fan1 turn on, fan2 turn on temps, respectively).
So don't worry about that oil pressure
Lots of people here prefer the European 0W-20 if they can find it. Everything I thought I knew about oil weights and those numbers, went out the window when I came here heh.
So don't worry about that oil pressure
Lots of people here prefer the European 0W-20 if they can find it. Everything I thought I knew about oil weights and those numbers, went out the window when I came here heh. Man, I'm surprised no Veterans have chimed in. 15-20 at warm idle is NORMAL for a stock LT1. Just like 225-235F for running temperature (which is fan1 turn on, fan2 turn on temps, respectively).
So don't worry about that oil pressure Lots of people here prefer the European 0W-20 if they can find it. Everything I thought I knew about oil weights and those numbers, went out the window when I came here heh.
So don't worry about that oil pressure
Lots of people here prefer the European 0W-20 if they can find it. Everything I thought I knew about oil weights and those numbers, went out the window when I came here heh.
- Mike
but in all seriousness mine does jump around too and i always wondered if it was bad, but now i guess i know its all gravy! haha and mine jumps like 5-6 psi pretty regularily.
Mine idles a little above 75psi on cold startup, idles at around 28psi after driving it for like an hour, 50psi cruising (when warm), and a bit above 75psi (when warm) at WOT. I use Royal Purple 10w30. I guess you could say I have a healthy engine 
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,564
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From: Decatur, TN (N-W of Athens)
Yea, I'm 98% sure that my oil pressure jumping is not the actual pressure jumping, just my gauge or sensor being a bastard. Oddly it really only does it when it's idling, when I'm driving it doesn't flicker any *shrug*.
Check to see if the wire hasnt been burnt by the headers, but at idle, are your RPMs steady? Mine flickers sometimes too when it misfires, the rpms drop an d so does the oil pressure
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,564
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From: Decatur, TN (N-W of Athens)
If you're asking me, I don't have headers. 93's oil pressure sender is down by the oil filter though, unlike 94+ where it's behind the intake (har har!).My RPMs only move around 50RPMs, and that's all the small misfire. Idle smoothed out loads though when I removed the AIR heh. Mine's "flicker" is like 15psi, enough to really register on the gauge and catch your attention, and being into electronics I know that it's a faulty signal or gauge. Not sure which to believe though lol My coolant temp gauge is shot, for the most part, only works when it wants and even then it reads about 40F too low! I keep my scanner in my car and every so often I'll check to see what the temp is at, but it's always fine, around 190F.
