Oil pressure gauge question

[SiggyZ]

When I'm sitting idle at a stop light, the oil pressure gauge jumps around pretty erratically. It's fine when the car's moving. What could be causing this?

[SMWS6TA]

Either oil pump going, low oil fluid, or OPSU housing is either cracked or the plastic piece inside the OPSU that measures the pressure is cracking, could even be a faulty wire.


My money is one the housing being cracked.


Have you done any work on it lately?

[SiggyZ]

That's nice and no I haven't. I'll be taking it in for an oil/filter change soon. The car runs fine. I just notice it doing that when I'm sitting idle.

Either oil pump going, low oil fluid, or OPSU housing is either cracked or the plastic piece inside the OPSU that measures the pressure is cracking, could even be a faulty wire.


My money is one the housing being cracked.


Have you done any work on it lately?

[67CamaroRSSS]

Some days my 02 does that but mostly not. I figure I'll ignore it til it starts going CLANG CLANG CLANG...

[SMWS6TA]

So whats it reading? At idle and at 2-3k rpm?

[SiggyZ]

I'm not able to check it right now, but when driving, the needle generally sits a little above the middle of the gauge. Isn't the middle a 4?

So whats it reading? At idle and at 2-3k rpm?

[SiggyZ]

Mine does it nearly always when I'm out driving and idle at a light. Now after a cold start-up in the garage? It stays still.

Some days my 02 does that but mostly not. I figure I'll ignore it til it starts going CLANG CLANG CLANG...

[SMWS6TA]

I'm not able to check it right now, but when driving, the needle generally sits a little above the middle of the gauge. Isn't the middle a 4?

that's around 40 psi.....good, I was making sure it wasn't around 20-25 psi.

[SiggyZ]

Okay. The needle climbs when I'm accelerating from a stop, but I'm pretty sure tapers off and sits around the middle once I'm going. I don't believe it ever really drops below 40 psi.

that's around 40 psi.....good, I was making sure it wasn't around 20-25 psi.

[SMWS6TA]

that's ok, just keep an eye on it. It drops to 20 or below better start looking for cause.

[SiggyZ]

I'd still like to get the needle twitching fixed, it's annoying as hell. Maybe I'll take the car into one of the local Chevy dealerships for an oil change and mention it to them.

that's ok, just keep an eye on it. It drops to 20 or below better start looking for cause.

[SMWS6TA]

It would be cheaper to just get a new OPSU ($58) + socket ($10) and change it out yourself then to have them trouble shoot it.

[SiggyZ]

I wouldn't have a clue how to do something like that.

It would be cheaper to just get a new OPSU ($58) + socket ($10) and change it out yourself then to have them trouble shoot it.

[SMWS6TA]

easy.....


It is located just behind the intake on the drivers side. If you have small-med hands you can fit your hands back their. You can follow the vacuum hose from the break booster to the intake and you'll find it. Disconnect the wire harness and then slip the socket over it and remove it. Hand install the new one and then tighten with socket. Not to much torque (just snug like a spark plug). Reattach the wire harness. It takes about 10-20 mins depending on how easy you can get the wire harness off.

[SiggyZ]

Thanks, we'll see. Isn't it entirely possible that's not the reason for the cause of the twitchy needle?

easy.....


It is located just behind the intake on the drivers side. If you have small-med hands you can fit your hands back their. You can follow the vacuum hose from the break booster to the intake and you'll find it. Disconnect the wire harness and then slip the socket over it and remove it. Hand install the new one and then tighten with socket. Not to much torque (just snug like a spark plug). Reattach the wire harness. It takes about 10-20 mins depending on how easy you can get the wire harness off.

[SMWS6TA]

yes but it's the cheaper fix and easiest to trouble shoot.

Think about it, the OPSU is about 12-14 yrs old. It's a plastic piece that has gone through thousands of heat cycles. Fatigue/wear it's going to go bad at some point.

[35th-ANV-SS]

Sounds like your car is ready to self-destruct. I would sell it on the cheap before it does. I'll give you $250 for it. Let me know.

[Y2KPewterSS]

Sounds like your car is ready to self-destruct. I would sell it on the cheap before it does. I'll give you $250 for it. Let me know.

Too much

[SiggyZ]

Hell yeah that's too much. I'll take $75.24 and not a cent lower or higher.

[98TransAmWs-6]

Hell yeah that's too much. I'll take $75.24 and not a cent lower or higher.

I'll give you $5 since less is more right?