So I have a 92 gt. My oil pressure gauge is stock and it's reading low. I did some searching and found that the stock gauges are pretty bad and notorious of giving false readings. The one thing is that when I drive my car hard and basically keep it at higher rpm the oil pressure will go back up to the middle of the gauge and give a perfect reading. But when I am just cruising and driving normally the oil pressure goes back down. Please help.... thank you! Also I checked the oil and it's at a normal level. It's 10w30 full synthetic.
Low Oil Pressure Reading
- Thread starter Jake11
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Put a mechanical gauge on it.
Then you will know for sure if it has low pressure or not .
Then you will know for sure if it has low pressure or not .
Pretty much the best way to do it. You can get a new sending unit for the stock gauge. If you still aren't happy then I would buy whatever cheap mech gauge auto zone had on the shelf. Don't even run it into the cab if you don't want to. Fire it up and see what the numbers say. If that's the end of it, then route it into the interior of save up for an Autometer gauge. I have Autometer phantom gauges in my mustang, but I've had an el cheapo sunpro mech gauge in my wrangler for the last 4 years. No issues.
mikestang63
SN Certified Technician
word of advice. If using a mechanical oil pressure gauge, follow @jrichker 's advice. Use a copper or better stainless steel line with an inline oil restrictor. You do not want to use the cheap nylon line or without any restricror. No es bueno having hot oil spew all inside your car. You can tap into the stock oil pressure sending unit log for the new gauge, and keep both gauges working.
FWIW, I run autometer electric oil, water, and volt gauges in an A pod pillar. I didnt want to run any lines inside my car. Mechanical gauges will always give the most accurate reading, but I've never had any issue with electric ones as long as they are properly grounded. Know that you cannot use stock sending units for autometer gauges,and likewise vice versa.
FWIW, I run autometer electric oil, water, and volt gauges in an A pod pillar. I didnt want to run any lines inside my car. Mechanical gauges will always give the most accurate reading, but I've never had any issue with electric ones as long as they are properly grounded. Know that you cannot use stock sending units for autometer gauges,and likewise vice versa.
mikestang63
SN Certified Technician
OK so is the oil pressure change when operating at high rpm an indication of anything? Or am I going to be unable to tell until I get a new guage? I am definitely going to get a mechanical gauge but I was just wondering if there's any way to tell if it's a bigger problem than just a faulty stock guage.
On a motor at operational temps the oil pressure will be lower at idle. As you increase rpms the oil pressure builds up. It's designed that way to properly lubricate your engine. If you have excessively low oil pressure at idle it usually is an indication of low oil level,excessive bearing clearances(bearings are nearly worn out-if stock/original) or possibly the oil pump.
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