Is low/no oil pressure obvious?

[ndgcpr]

Hey all.

I get pretty parinoid sometimes, and i bought a oil pressure gauge not too long back. The other day i noticed that when the car is off instead of sitting at 0 it moves nearly a 1/4 of the gauge pass 0 and sits in a spot i thought it would never go. I thought, oh well so it has shifted 20PSI or so. However it is slowly getting worse and now at idel the gauge sits on 0 or just above. I still have a full sump of oil too. I have to drive back from work so i am wondering if it is still safe? I will fix it when i get the time.

I sorta understand what no oil means and that i will probably see my water temp sky rocket, but will i hear awful grinding noises as well, or is that only when it gets really bad. This probably isn't something that should be talked about and i will fix it asap.

[slide86]

you will know its got no oil pressure after the engine has siezed!

Got another gauge you can put in its place? to check the gauge is accurate.
The line to the gauge isnt kinked is it? (mechanical type)

I wouldnt be driving the car if it does have low oil pressure, you can do HEAPS of damage in no time if its got no pressure. check the two things above first, if that doesnt fix it then you could have problems!

[SL666]

with a complete lack of oil pressure you will first probably hear tappet noise, then bearing knock.. at the bearing knock stage.. its too late..

if you suspect the gauge is cactus, an easy way to tell if the pump is working, is to start the car with the bonnet open, and listen for the hydraulic lifters (if it has them) to pump up, and the tappet noises will get quieter (to normal levels)

[ndgcpr]

yeah i am fairly sure i have no probs. I def have oil pressure, just wondering if in a bad run of luck it drops out. It is a electrical gauge and has never really been right. it wobbels all over the place constantly. Any reason why it would be going so negative? It is like its reading vaccume lol. Or is it just stuffed?

[SL666]

check the earth etc... thats about all i can suggest.. other than getting a better one

[ndgcpr]

did a quick check today it all seems fine, i still have the old switch type sensor in the glovebox so i guess i will throw that in and use the old light again for a while. wont have time till the weekend though.

[slide86]

you could use a mechanical one. they are a bit more accurate and quick with the reading. the only down fall is that you gotta run the line in the car. you dont want that leaking!

[SL666]

you need to run an isolator if you are going to do that

[ndgcpr]

yeah i thought it was illegal to run mechanical ones

[oldcorollas]

yup, illegal for obvious reason.

if you hear rod knock from lack of oil, i think you wouldn't be able to help turning the motor off from fear of what that noise is doing to the motor!!!

check it with a mechanical gauge, but maybe also get your gauge pressure checked...

[brett_celicacoupe]

i think my gauge has ADHD (attention deficate hyperactive disorder - or however its spelt ) as well.

its all over the place. for about 6 months i had no oil warning light OR gauge so i just assumed there was pressure.

then last week i buy the sender to go with the gauge i had, and oil pressure is only reading 10psi at some times.

which is impossible....the engine wouldnt have lasted the past 6 months on 10-40psi


if your that worried, pull a tappet cover off and start it.....youll see a lot of oil sloshing around then


and i though VDO were decent quality

[Mr DOHC]

my guage only reads 10psi at idle when warm, if it reads anyless than 30 psi {dpendant on oil type} then u may have issues.
i know 308's only read about 5-7 at idle

[brett_celicacoupe]

though - i run magnatec which is pretty thin

[WDE_BDY]

My TE71 used to read 0 to fuck all when warmed up and not just at idle, guage worked sweet on the 2TG but thats what it read on the 3T when I swapped it in (and yes I swapped the sender).
Personally, get it checked with a good ACCURATE gauge, if your gauge is right the motor is probably fucked.

Callum