Oil Gauge Reading Just Above 0!

[CATKICKER]

Hey Guys, I am having an issue with my Oil Gauge and just wanted some thoughts / suggestions.

I have put in a new cluster because I screwed my old one up by pulling off the needles.

After putting it in I check and everything looked to be OK (Oil pressue reads just below 4 - half way) but after looking down last night and seeing it sitting just about 0, I thought oh crap (but everything was running perfectly!!) I checked it out when I got home and there are no leaks and the oil level is fine.

I started it up this morning and up to 4 it went, all looked good and took off for work. 10-20k's later I look down with it in mind and it is once again around 0... hmmm, about 5 mins later it is back near 4! (This is making me think that it is a dodgy gauge because I am guessing I would notice a difference between the two pressure levels - am I right??) Pretty much the same deal on the way home!

I have just replaced the turbo with an R34 turbo and have done the timing belt / water pump...

I am putting it down to a dodgy gauge however I thought it would be a good idea to post to make sure it is not something obvious / severly wrong!!!

Any suggestions or advice would be MUCH appreciated!

Thanks, Todd

[TurboX]

This is what I just put in another post similar to your problem....

BTW it was the countersunk screws in the back of the oil pump had come loose - go figure??

Had EXACTLY this problem - drove it around for 6 mths as oil pressure and noise came and went and still made good power, BUT, it cost me.

Big ends 3&5 (i think had burnt to a crisp -totaly stuffed and crank scoured also so RODS & CRANK needed to be replaced.

Worse it was a AWD ( GTS4) RB20DET so harder to find.

Blind_Elk came to the rescue with his orig RB20DET as he put a Stagea RB25 AWD in his GTS4.

Turbine, Glenn, pulled the crank and rods from his motor and fitted to mine as my block and pistons were much better and less rego hassels.

Will be putting the rebuilt motor back in this weekend with luck

[CATKICKER]

Thanks! hmmm, I will cheack the bolts in the oil pump (where is that located?)

The rest of the post is a bit confusing!!

[TurboX]

Sorry if confusing but thats just me, and you cant check the oil pump screws unless you remove the sump.

Bummer that! Especially if its AWD!!

[CATKICKER]

It is an R32 GTS-t...

It just seems a bit odd that it has happened 200k's into a new instrument cluster...

And did you mean your engine died after having loose bolts? (hence all the work...)

[CATKICKER]

any help would be great before I drive the car to work tomorrow!!

[B0oStEr]

Get someone to check your oil pressure with a decent gauge.

It's quite common for the factory gauge to read like that.

It is usually the oil pressure sender on the motor at fault rather than the gauge itself but as you've been playing with the gauge it seems like a bit of a coincidence that it would be another problem.

[CATKICKER]

Thanks for that!

Can someone give me a list of what it 'could be' best and worst case so I know what to check?

If it was the pump failing, would I know about it if they were genuine readings?

[dbo]

I think it might just be the gauge or the sender unit. Keep an eye on it when driving. Mine sits abit under the halfway mark, then suddenly drops straight to 0.. car runs fine and had it serviced last week.

Think my problem is related to the gauge. I'll be going for some aftermarket gauges soon so we will know then!

[R31Nismoid]

Before driving anywhere i'd get a proper gauge on and see what exactly is going on.

Better to be safe than sorry with oil pressures

[BezerkR32]

Get a mechanic to put a master guage on it or put a mechanical guage on it yourself. if pressures are good look at the electrics. Should not see less than 20psi at idle at operating temp and should climb when the rpm increases. will peak at around 65psi. these pressures might vary slightly depending on what grade oil you are running.

Hey Guys, I am having an issue with my Oil Gauge and just wanted some thoughts / suggestions.

I have put in a new cluster because I screwed my old one up by pulling off the needles.

After putting it in I check and everything looked to be OK (Oil pressue reads just below 4 - half way) but after looking down last night and seeing it sitting just about 0, I thought oh crap (but everything was running perfectly!!) I checked it out when I got home and there are no leaks and the oil level is fine.

I started it up this morning and up to 4 it went, all looked good and took off for work. 10-20k's later I look down with it in mind and it is once again around 0... hmmm, about 5 mins later it is back near 4! (This is making me think that it is a dodgy gauge because I am guessing I would notice a difference between the two pressure levels - am I right??) Pretty much the same deal on the way home!

I have just replaced the turbo with an R34 turbo and have done the timing belt / water pump...

I am putting it down to a dodgy gauge however I thought it would be a good idea to post to make sure it is not something obvious / severly wrong!!!

Any suggestions or advice would be MUCH appreciated!

Thanks, Todd

[foznice]

I have this exact same issue....

I have always ignored it, knowing that oil pressure senders/gauges tend to be faulty and scare the shit out of their owners...............

But now I'm scared.. I might just go and check out the oil pressure next week.