Can anyone help me out. My oil pressure gauge bounces around from 0-75 when i am driving? Is there something wrong with my engine or is it the gauge? I would appreciate the help.

 

Check the fitting that is screwed/bolted into the pressure sending unit and has the spade for the electrical connection. It is probably loose. Tighten it and use some thread lock before it comes apart.

 

Do you think it might be an engine problem? Not really that great of a mechanic, so this might sound stupid,but where would the connections be that i have to tighten? Sorry if it sounds like a dumb question.

 

I take it that you did not install your auxillary gauges on your own. I assume you have an electrical gauge, probably an Autometer, from Promini or one of the other suppliers. Find the instructions and look at the picture of the sending unit that is installed near the oil filter or look for it over the back of the engine on the passenger side by the oil filter housing. On the top of it is a small fitting where the electrical wire with a female connector slides onto a male bayonet or spade. This fitting has vibrated loose on mine twice and caused the symptoms you describe. Unfortunately, I did not cathch it in time on the first instace and had to replace the sending unit because the fitting had come off and the nut was loose inside and inaccessible. You can reach down and tighten it with your fingers and then check it regularly or as soon as you get the crazy needle symtoms.

 

If you were running 0 oil pressure you'd know it. You would now have a boat anchor under your hood.

Sounds like PMC is on the right track.

 

Well I checked the connection on the oil filter like you told me too but everything is real tight, nothing loose. Do you think I need a new gauge? I do have the promini oil pressure and boost gauge. My boost gauge acts up sometimes also sometimes reading a max boost of over 22lbs sometimes. Are my oil pressure gauge problem and boost gauge problem related or do i need two different gauges now? Please help

 

If you are sure you got to the right fitting, it is tight, and your boost gauge is also erratic, let's go to Plan B. Trace the wires from your gauges to the plug in connector under your dash below the steering wheel (pull the panel from the top portion and it will swing out for access) and continue on to the ground wire and make certain that it is securley connected to the body. If that looks OK, my guess would be the sensor that the oil pressure sending wire and the manifold pressre line are connected to (probably in the compartment under the hood below the passenger side cowl vent by your windshield bottom. I would also check the wiring harness back from the sensor to the plug under your dash to make certain that the wires are not damaged or severely pinched. I am not a mechanic, either, but I like to play mechanic.

 

Sounds like it may be a grounding problem. Check the location of the ground wires and see if they need to be tightened.

 

I've had to replace two autometer senders, the second one only lasted a couple of weeks. The sender does not like being shook around which happens when it's mounted to the engine. The third sender I remote mounted using braided hose and aircraft fittings. This one has had no issues so far. When the first sender went bad I called autometer and the tech told me they have had problems when the sender is mounted to a 4-cylinder engine due to vibration. Hope this helps.

 

Sorry if this sounds dumb but like i said earlier, i am not that great of a mechanic so here it goes, what the hell is the SENDER? I have like a rectangular sqaure apparatus that has an electrical connector to it which i think is the sender for the boost gauge, right or wrong? Do you guys think that is the faulty part or is it actually the gauge? this part is mounted in my engine compatement attached to a plastic piece near the passenger side cowl vent. Checked all fittings and grounds and they are all tight. Please help.