Low Oil Pressure?

[Green Machine 95]

sometimes when my car is at about 225-235 degrees it at a stop light, "Low Oil Pressure" comes up, but when I hit the gas or just let the car roll, it goes away. Any clue?

I also use 7 quarts of oil instead of 7.5, maybe that can be it?

thanks

[rodtice]

Have you ever replaced your pressure sending unit?

[RoraStar96]

I would start by using the proper amount of oil...that would be first, then investigate other things.

[Green Machine 95]

rodtice: no

rora: I'll add in half a quart tomorrow and see how she runs

[Slade901]

Originally Posted by Green Machine 95

sometimes when my car is at about 225-235 degrees it at a stop light, "Low Oil Pressure" comes up, but when I hit the gas or just let the car roll, it goes away. Any clue?

I also use 7 quarts of oil instead of 7.5, maybe that can be it?

thanks

Why would continue driving a vehicle when the coolant temperature is 225-235?
That pretty close to overheating. You may need to check your thermostat, water pump (usually slow leak), make sure your radiator fan even works.

[Green Machine 95]

this only happens while im delievering at my work

[Telecastoff]

I have a 1997 Aurora that I suspect has a bad Oil Pressure sending unit. Could anyone tell me where on the engine it's located? Anyone else experience low oil pressure problems. Mine came up very suddenly, at idle. Oil level is fine and the engine isn't clattering, so I assume the oil pressure sending unit may be bad.

[Sweet William]

The switch is by the oil filter. Make sure you use the oem part so the values of the switch are what they should be. It is a pipe thread so have some teflon tape to seal it up. $20 dollar part easy fix.

The wrong viscosity oil can cause the problem also. These motors run hot and viscosity is affected more at temp. extremes.


This is something from bbobynski form another forum about oil pressure. He was an engineer on the Northstar project so I tend to beleive what he says...
"A perfectly good Northstar will idle with 5 PSI oil pressure when it is smoking hot with smoking hot oil.....

Oil pressure is greatly over rated....LOL.... The engine just needs enough oil pressure to deliver oil to the center line of the crank to lube the rod bearings. The minimum oil pressure required is determined by the diameter of the main bearings and the RPM. The oil has to overcome centripital force to reach the center of the crank...that is what oil pressure is for.

Most engines , including the Northstar, will idle with little or no oil pressure. The load on the bearings is so low and the RPM is so low that very little oil flow is needed. Excess oil pressure just takes more energy and fuel....costing fuel economy.

The oil pressure of the Northstar was a bit of a crap shoot when it was being designed and developed. With the expansion of all aluminum main bearing bulkheads and an all aluminum engine and 32 hydraulic tappets there was some consternation about how much oil flow and pump capacity was required...esecially as the engine aged and wore with miles. The pump on the 93 Northstars was pretty big and flowed a lot of oil...even with the large capacity pump , though, the idle oil pressure with the engine smoking hot (like 300 degree oil and 265 degree coolant in Death Valley after pullling a trailer to the top of the pass flat out....LOL) would often be 4-5 PSI. No prob.

As experience was gained with the engine in development and in testing we realized that the oil pump was on the large size for what it needed to be and was costing efficiency and moving a lot of oil around unnecessarily. In 96 the pump was downsized to be closer so as to pump less oil....and improve efficiency.

People are enamored with high flow oil pumps and high oil pressure but it really isn't nescessary. Even the sand rail guys that are spinning the engine 7000 and 8000 RPM use the standard oil pump with no problems. The only issue they have with oiling and bearing problems is climbing hills so steep at max RPM that the pickup sucks air and starves the system...so they run a pressurized oiler system to "make up" oil flow when the pickup sucks air and/or dry sump the sytem. "

[Drama]

My '99 gives me the same problems..."low oil pressure". Just replaced oil pressure sending unit, but the condition is still unchanged. Suggestions?

[RocStar]

Hello,

I got your email address from Automotive forums. My 97 Aurora gives me a low oil pressure warning. THis happens when I stop at a light after driving for a while on hot days. What did you do to fix this problem?

Thank you for your time

Roc

[RocStar]

I would like to hear how someone actually fixed this problem

[maxwedge]

Originally Posted by RocStar

I would like to hear how someone actually fixed this problem

Might want to start a new thread here, this one was 2 years old.

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by maxwedge

Might want to start a new thread here, this one was 2 years old.

I agree.

Thread closed.


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