Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hi Again Guys,

With my Oil pressure gauge, it normally sits on about 1/4 - 1/2 when driving, and drops to 1/4 when idling at the lights. But noticed occasionally that it only goes to just under 1/4, then drops to nearly 0 when idling.
Does this sound like a faulty pressure sensor, or is there something actually wrong. What can cause a drop in oil pressure?

Cheers

Andrew

How many kays?
Petrol or deisel?
How old is the oil?
How good is the oil?
What grade of oil?

mkpatrol wrote:How many kays?
Petrol or deisel?
How old is the oil?
How good is the oil?
What grade of oil?

210'000 Diesel.
Changed oil about 1000kms ago.
Used Penrite HPR Diesel, which is 20W-60

I would suggest you put an oil pressure master guage in the oil pressure switch port and check the pressure against the Manufacturers specs. If the pressure is ok then the gauge may be faulty. If the pressure is no ok then you will need to look at the engine.
A master guage can be bought from REPCO or someone like that.

mkpatrol wrote:I would suggest you put an oil pressure master guage in the oil pressure switch port and check the pressure against the Manufacturers specs. If the pressure is ok then the gauge may be faulty. If the pressure is no ok then you will need to look at the engine.
A master guage can be bought from REPCO or someone like that.

Ok, may have a look at something like that. Seems to be an intermittent problem, so Im guessing its the sensor. What problems with the engine can cause lower pressure?

2 types of guages..... electrical and mechanicle

The std fit to 99.99999% of cars and 4x4s etc is the electrical guage. it uses electrical interferance as a measurement that you see on the guage, they are not really all that accurate.

The 2nd type, mechanicle guage, uses direct information from the sensing position, they are very accurate !

Dont waste money on a $35.00 on a triple pak of guages from the local disposal store , they arent a real good unit for accuracy. Get a name brand unit such as "Specco", "VDO" etc..... expect to pay form $65.00 up for a single guage.

GQAndrew wrote:

mkpatrol wrote:I would suggest you put an oil pressure master guage in the oil pressure switch port and check the pressure against the Manufacturers specs. If the pressure is ok then the gauge may be faulty. If the pressure is no ok then you will need to look at the engine.
A master guage can be bought from REPCO or someone like that.

Ok, may have a look at something like that. Seems to be an intermittent problem, so Im guessing its the sensor. What problems with the engine can cause lower pressure?

I am assuming you are talking about the genuine gauge whain I say this to. A master oil pressure gauge is what mechanics use for diagnosing oilm pressure prublems. I just thought I would clear that up.
Low oil pressurer can be caused by poor oil quality, dodgy oil filters, worn oil pump, worn main and big end bearings, stuck oil pressire relief valve,
major oil leak and no oil in the sump. I added the last two things beacuase you neve know

If the problem is intermittent then maybe it will be the electric sensor on the engine block, a short in the wiring, the resistor which stops the gauge wobbling all over the place or the circuit board on the back of the gauges is faulty.
Start with the basics first and check the oil pressure. I cannot stress enough on checking basics. No good checking electicals if the engine has no oil pressure

Common prob on GQs.

Buy new sensor.

Bazzle

bazzle wrote:Common prob on GQs.

Buy new sensor.

$128 from Nissan

Just got quoted $17 from SuperCheap, but they call it a switch, I asked the guy if it does control the guage reading and he said it screws in so it must

It has a switch and a rheostat insideplus a breather tube on the new ones to try and stop the condensation probs of early senders.

Bazzle