Should I be worried about my Oil PSI gauge?

[BrianDye]

Ever since i've had my 92, the Oil PSI gauge has always basically never been more than like 1/4 of the way "up" I think you would call it, or to the right I guess; and the highest its ever been was right when I got the oil changed, then it went back down shortly after.

Ive always kept up my oil changes and whatnot, never smelled burning oil, nor felt anything abnormal with the engine, or sounds either, but that gauge scares me, YES I did search, and couldnt really find what I was looking for, so im posting this, to get hopefully a little insight on what todo.

I read on a couple other threads that its just a "dummy gauge" and I should worry about it unless its all the way down, well mine is...basically, so what now? Lol.

Heres a video of when I SeaFoamed it a while ago, when im driving you can see the gauge.




Skip to 5:48 and you get a good shot of the gauge, in the vid. the check oil light was on because I was a little low, but it hasnt been on since I got the oil changed, which im due for another change by the end of the month.

Anyone else ever have this problem and fix it?
OH YEA: It does leak oil, nothing major, but probably adding about a quart a month, give or take a little more.

 

[IZwack]

Put a manual pressure gauge somewhere and get some real PSI readings - that should tell you whether or not the system pressure is indeed down or if its just the gauge.

 

[BrianDye]

The only gauge I have laying around is an AC charge level one, dont think that'l work....is it something I can rent at AutoZone? Where do I connect it?

 

[IZwack]

This would probably work:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=92699

I'm not sure what is available on the OHV engine for a test port but maybe the oil pressure gauge - unbolt it.

 

[BrianDye]

Okay man thanks for the help, im gonna do an oil change, and then see what happens, I really wanna fix the little leak too, but im not sure if I can trace to where its coming out of.

 

[Masterd]

It doesnt sound so good in that video when you have the hood up....is that valve train rattle yikes.

 

[BrianDye]

Nope, just leaky headers, and at the time, the previous dipshit owners horribly mangled cherry bomb fell off, I put new catbacks on and it quieted right up, besides the headers.

 

[marragtop]

Interesting video. Not sure I'd take the engine RPMs up to 4500 with the check oil light on, but then again I don't like putting rod bearings in.

 

[Anime]

You should probably start by pulling the oil pressure sensor/sending unit and either cleaning it off or just replacing it, since if it's gunked up with sludge, it'll give incorrect readings. You might even want to just swap in the newer "real" sensor to get more accurate readings.

The easiest way to find an oil leak is to clean off the motor with engine cleaner/degreaser, then poke around the block from underneath with a flashlight at night or in a dark garage. The fresh oil, even if it's just a tiny bit, will be shiny and glossy, and you should at least have an idea of the area it's coming from. If it's from the top of the block, chances are it's a valve cover gasket or maybe a head gasket. If it's from below, it could be the rear main seal or the oil pan gasket. If it's on the passenger side, it might even be the o-ring from the oil filter adapter.