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Oil Pressure problem

Gas Man

Member
Joined
March 26, 2001
Messages
11
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0
City, State
Michigan
Year, Model & Trim Level
'91 Navajo LX
Whenever I accelerate or my engine is under stress, my oil pressure gauge drops. The gauge never rises, just falls. It has done this ever since i have owned it. And the oil pump is new as of 10 months. I have no clue as to what it would be. The vehicle runs great and doesn't ever overheat. And no dummy lights come on so i'm lost. Please help out.
 






Hey Gas,
Just curious, have you modified the oil pressure sending unit or gauge in any way? The reason I ask is because the gauge doesn't actually show your true oil pressure. In stock form there is a pressure sending unit that if it senses over 5psi oil pressure it turns the guage "on". The guage moves up and it has a resistor built into it to keep the needle showing a little more than half way up the normal range. It's basically an idiot light hooked to something that looks like a gauge. I replaced the sending unit with a 0-60psi unit and removed the resistor behind the gauge and now it works correctly. Only costs you about 10 bucks for a sending unit, but you do have to remove the instrument cluster to cut out the resistor.
If you don't want to change it, I would suggest at least removing the sending unit and attaching a normal mechanical oil pressure gauge and check it with that. At normal operating temp and 2000 RPM, you want to see between 40-60psi according to my Haynes manual. At least you'd know if you have a gauge or engine problem.
Hope it helps
CJ
 






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