Hi everyone,
What is "normal" oil pressure on a naturally aspirated 96 SE (164,000 miles). My guage reads 40-41 when cold. As long as my temp stays in what I would consider to be an indicated 180deg (normal for this guage) I will maintain 39 pounds. One I get into traffic and the temp rises to 205ish the oil pressure drops to just above the red bar. Very seldomly while in drive and stopped it will bounce into the red setting off the "Oh Crap" buzzer. Natrually this is a bit problematic in the Florida heat. The pressure will rise when the temp goes down while driving. There are no unusual sounds coming from the engine.

Now I will say I have not set off the buzzer since last OCT when it was a lot hotter and I have noticed that all three small gauges tend to move together at times indicating I may have an issue there as well. Gernerally speaking I have learned from other cars that "normal" is different on every car and sometimes it'* better to look for changes in that "normal" rather than relying on the actual indicated number but oil pressure is nothing to take chances on.

Thanks,
Dean

If your pressure was dropping that low you would hear things in the engine, such as valve tappet. I suspect a bad sensor or a grounding issue. You mentioned other gauges acting up. Take a look at this write up, it might be helpful.

https://www.gmforum.com/t278980/

Thanks, I'll have a look at it tomorrow. LOL yeah I had 5.0 Mustangs so I know what no oil pressure sounds like..

Another thing to consider is that our gauge aren't the most accurate. I have swapped sensors a few times and it'* sad how different they can read.

If you have the availability I would recommend using a mechanical gauge to check the pressure. That will give you the true reading and then you may be able to ignore the gauge.

Bill,
Thanks for the reply. That factory guage accuracy issue is what I meant by this statement. " Gernerally speaking I have learned from other cars that "normal" is different on every car and sometimes it'* better to look for changes in that "normal" rather than relying on the actual indicated number " I had a Ford LTD that I "fixed" by doing just what you said and another car whos factory tach that lagged almost 800rpm behind the engine. Not good when your trying to shift for max power.

Where would I hook up the guage on one of these cars anyway. LOL I get half stupid when I look at this engine.

You would hook up on the oil filter adapter. This is the piece that the oil filter screws in to. On the back side of the motor facing the firewall there is a hole where the oil pressure sensor is located. Remove the sensor and use that hole.

Here'* a picture of the oil filter adapter in relation to the harmonic balancer and passenger axle.


And here is the actual hole where you would hook into for the gauge.

Great info thanks for including the pictures they helped alot. If I decide to keep an aftermarket guage wouldnt disconecting the factory guage make the car think it has zero OP? tripping the buzzer and "check guages" light? or do i need to make a T fitting and run factory and after market guages. I never had a car with a factory low OP warning system. I will probably use a good quality electric guage for ease of mounting anywhere on the dash.

I am still going to look at that ground bus and clean it up since that area seems to be problematic with these cars

What'* the sound you're talking about?

My car does the same thing; it will be around 40something PSI and drop to below the red line. I can't imagine the car would be running as fine as it is if the oil pressure was this low, I mean we've got to be talking about under 10 PSI, that'* what shows up on my gague. I just wanna know what the sound is so i can listen for it. But from inside the car I think it sounds fine.

I've suspected a bad sensor all along; It used to be just fine, until I took it to the mechanic once and they did something with the oil pressure; can't remember off the top of my head.

And, oh God is that beeping annoying.

If you loose oil pressure your lifters will loose pressure and you will here the tapping from the slop, it will go tap tap tap, real fast.

think back to your childhood and the wonderful sound of a baseball card in the spokes to really get that genuine motor sound... well that sound is bad in a motor now lol