Should the oil pressure guage drop below the "Low" line at idle?

[vi edit]

I've never noticed it do that before...when "at speed" on the highway the oil pressure guage is right in the middle. When I come to a stop it drops all the way down.

I've got a clean & pressed shirt & tie on and didn't want to monkey around with popping the hood checking the oil this morning in the parking lot at work.

I just had the oil changed about 2 months ago (2500 miles) and there's less than 6000 miles on the vehicle.

 

[Rogeee]

First off, make,model year please.

The oil pressure gauge should drop at idle but not all the way to the bottom, on a normal production engine you should have 10 PSI of oil pressure per 1,000 RPM, at idle 5 to 10 is considered normal during the warm months.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: crustyoldman
First off, make,model year please.

The oil pressure gauge should drop at idle but not all the way to the bottom, on a normal production engine you should have 10 PSI of oil pressure per 1,000 RPM, at idle 5 to 10 is considered normal during the warm months.

See Topic Summary

 

[Pepsi90919]

need pics of oil gauge

 

[iamwiz82]

BTW, I'd get a mechanical oil pressure gauge on there first. I've had nothing but trouble with electronic ones giving false readings.

 

[davew0670]

oil sending unit could be bad. could be the oil pump which will lock your engine if it does go bad (I know first hand). sounds like the unit since it seems to be fluctuating on the guage and not staying one spot.

 

[Rogeee]

DOH !

So I'm blind, sue me

 

[vi edit]

My check engine light just popped on along with it. The dealer is right across the street and they just came and picked it up.

 

[Rogeee]

Go directly to the dealership before engine damage occurs, it could be a faulty gauge or sender which can trip the check engine light but it could also be a loss of oil pressure.

 

[Rogeee]

By the way, new engines do tend to use oil during the break in period so you should be checking the oil at every fill up at the gas station pal

 

[funboy6942]

Originally posted by: crustyoldman
By the way, new engines do tend to use oil during the break in period so you should be checking the oil at every fill up at the gas station pal

Please explain this. I have sold new cars, bought new cars, managed the repair shops for ford and dodge and I have NEVER heard of a new car during break in using any oil at all. Infact new cars of today dont require break in what so ever.

 

[Rogeee]

Until the piston rings are fully seated, new engines tend to use oil, not as much as as a decade ago,(because of tighter manufacturing tolerances) but they still do.


Go out to your vehicle now, open up the glove compartmnt, pull out the owners manual and read the first few pages on breaking in your new vehicle.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: funboy42
...new cars of today dont require break in what so ever.

Then why did my brand new Mustang recommend varying the speed for the first 1,000 miles to break the engine in?

ZV