97 Lesabre Low Oil Pressure

[C man]

The only time I have ever seen my oil pressure light come on was the first week I owned it. The light gauge would come on and off at idle and the gauge would fluctuate a lot. When I finally changed the oil their was only 2.5qts of oil in the pan and a Fram filter!!

Granted the oil was low but I have ran the oil that low on one occasion again and the light never flickered. I had a puralator filter in at the time and have only used those since I had my car. So first hand experience has persauded me not to ever use their oil filter. Even with oil 3/4qt low and temps in the 95+ degree range oil pressure is still consistent. I had actually thought this was was the problem when u first posted a few days ago.

[HotZ28]

I use Amsoil 20W50 Racing oil in my PA Ultra in the heat of the summer, because it is superior to any oil on the market, bar none! I also like the extended oil change intervals, but when I notice the oil pressure drop to 40-psi @ idle, I know it is time to install another Mobile-I oil filter. In fact, after 8K on the oil & filter, I changed the filter today and the oil pressure increased by 10-psi @ idle. Anytime you have an UIM failure, the oil & filter should be changed at least every 1K for at least three changes! I am surprised you would change the oil without changing the filter! Anyway, good advise from the previous posters on filters; as mentioned, I use only Mobile I filters and have never had an issue.

[Smith1000]

Ran great today. When cruising hot, it was around 45 lbs, per the gauge. I guess I can live with that. At start up it is about 50. At idle it is right around 40.

I have a bad habit of changing the oil without changing the filter. I often do this on tractors as well because the filters are so expensive. I figure I'll pick one up next time I'm in town as it just takes a few minutes to swap out the filter. I usually dump the oil out of the old filter and stick it back in if I don't have a new one on hand.

Seems like its hard to find any filters that are not orange at the auto parts stores around here. I picked up an AC filter today; they had very few in stock. Thanks for all of the help.