What is normal for oil pressure for a 98 Bonneville when idling?

[Kate 49]

I just bought an 98 Bonneville SE. I just took it for a ride and the temp is in the mid 90s. The oil pressure is just above the red line when it is idling. It stays around 40 the rest of the time. If the engine is cold the pressure is higher at idle. Could this be that it needs an oil change because the oil is too thin? Any suggestions would be appreciated. when you first buy a vehicle everything little thing that looks wrong scares you.

[lakerfan1784]

yep, the oil may be too thin... try 10W-30.... if that doesnt fix it, oil pressure sensor may need changing, or a new oil pump is needed

[Flatrater]

I disagree with thin oil causing high oil pressure, it would cause low oil pressure. I would look at the sensor reading wrong.

[Kate 49]

I'm sorry, I meant that the pressure was low when idling, but would come up to between 30 and 40 when given the gas. It stayed just above the red mark on the low side when idling. But, when the engine was cool it would idle around the 30 to 40 mark. I was so worried about the car I forgot to say that it was on the low side. THanks for your fast response.

[markwb]

Get an independent mechanical test gage installed temporarily to check for actual oil pressure at idle & at rpm. The oil pressure indication on the inst cluster may not be that accurate & may not track true oil pressure correctly.

[Kate 49]

I took my car in yesterday to have the oil changed and the oil was so gunky, it must have not been changed in a long time. The pressure is normal now and the engine is running cooler too. Thanks everyone for your help. I had a complete check on the car and though there was new brakes, etc. on the front the back only had new brake pads and a leakin the wheel cylinder, which had saturated the new pads, had everything redone( which cost about 300.00) and now everything is great. I am still under blue book, which is an added bonus.