97 Bonneville l36 Oil pressure

[happyshippou]

Been driving this car for only about a month, bought it with 175K, another post said cold start normal 60psi, hot idle 30-40psi for untired engine, and during driving should be 40-50psi.

That was how it was for the first 30 days or so. The check engine light went on yesterday, turned off, and then turned back on. I checked fluids, etc. I just noticed that the oil pressure gauge reads 20-30psi at idle, dipping very close to the red, during driving 30-40psi, and I still don't know cold start.

The previous owner ran synth in the engine since 60K, but a guy he loaned it to had it changed with synth blend just before I bought it.

Also, the outside air temperature jumped to over 100 three days ago, don't know if that has anything to do with it, engine runs at 200

Am I making a big deal out of nothing?

[Tech II]

Check engine light has nothing to do with oil pressure.......

You are depending on that gauge/sensor...if worried, install a mechanical gauge in place of the sensor to check true pressure.....

Go to a place like Autozone, and they will read the code that turned on that check engine light....

Low oil idiot lights usually come on, when pressure gets to about 4-5 psi...this varies by manufacturer....some say 8...some say 10....

[happyshippou]

Thanks man, yeah, in California you can't get the check engine light read at a parts place, been illegal for three years or so. Something about passing smog.

[Tech II]

Since you have an OBD II vehicle, OBD II code readers are fairly cheap to buy......$20-$50, depending on how many features you want......Check places like Amazon......