Possible Low Oil Pressure?

[NavySeabee]

I've noticed just recently that my after market Auto Meter oil pressure gauge seems to be reading low. It seemed to be higher during the colder months. I've never paid too much attention to it before. When I start the car in the morning, it reads about 25-30psi. After driving a bit, it seems to go down to about 12-13psi around town. Even on the hwy, it doesn't get much higher. I have a spare gauge which I'm planning to replace the sender, see how it goes, then replace the gauge itself if there's no difference.

Car is not supercharged and there don't seem to be any symptoms.

Any thoughts? If the gauge/sender replacements don't work. I plan to get it to the shop so they can check the accurate pressure there.

Thanks all!

[fastblackmerc]

My Autometer reads over 100PSI when cold... under 25PSI when hot.

[Vortech347]

Idle should be around 75-80 cold. Idle warm around 25. Can vary on oil type, oil weight, ambient temp, ect...

Ford put idiot gauges in their cars for a reason, its because people would see such a huge difference in oil pressures and take the cars into the dealer.

[NavySeabee]

Just seems mine used to go higher. I just don't know if it's because the weather change and it's getting warm out. Didn't notice it last year.

Note -- Last oil change I switched from 5W20 to 5W30.

[RF Overlord]

Like Jim, mine reads almost max on cold start, idles at about 25 when fully warmed up.

Sounds like the sender is bad...it's not wicked common, but not unheard-of either.

[Krytin]

People have had issues w/sender on the Autometer electric oil pressure gauge in the past - try the new sender.

[NavySeabee]

Thanks guys. Replacing the sender in the morning. We'll see how it goes.

[Comin' in Hot]

Mine reads like yours, 25-30 when cold and around 12 when hot.

[NavySeabee]

With so many variables in the posts above, and I'm sure there's a lot more, when should one be concerned?? :confused:

[RF Overlord]

It's been well established since we first discovered the factory gauge was a fake, that normal oil pressure is about 85-100 when first started cold. Once the motor reaches operating temp, 25 when idling and somewhere around 50 when cruising along at 40 mph or so.

For the record, the factory service manual say 40-70 at 2500 RPM hot.

[RacerX]

With so many variables in the posts above, and I'm sure there's a lot more, when should one be concerned?? :confused:

If you have a stock gauge, when it reads zero.
Actual pressure gauge, most engine builders say MINIMUM pressure is 10 psi per 1,000 rpm.

[SC Cheesehead]

Idle should be around 75-80 cold. Idle warm around 25. Can vary on oil type, oil weight, ambient temp, ect...

Ford put idiot gauges in their cars for a reason, its because people would see such a huge difference in oil pressures and take the cars into the dealer.

^^^^^^ What he said.

[Marauderjack]

Mine did the same thing over a year ago so I replaced the sender and all is well again!!:beer:

I dissected the old one and found a fairly complex mechanism with a well worn rheostat.......see photo......that's probably your problem too!! :eek:

[fastblackmerc]

Mine did the same thing over a year ago so I replaced the sender and all is well again!!:beer:

I dissected the old one and found a fairly complex mechanism with a well worn rheostat.......see photo......that's probably your problem too!! :eek:

I replaced the original one after about 1 year of use and the new has worked fine for over 7 years.

[NavySeabee]

Mine did the same thing over a year ago so I replaced the sender and all is well again!!:beer:

I dissected the old one and found a fairly complex mechanism with a well worn rheostat.......see photo......that's probably your problem too!! :eek:

Problem fixed. Gotta love a new sender! :beer:

Thanks for the help all!