Low oil pressure?

[Polygon]

I just want to know if this is normal for our cars or not. Last weekend I took my new R/T TT to get the emissions and safety done. While driving back I noticed that the oil pressure wasn't really that high. It was just below the mark I would assume was normal pressure range. Then when I got home and the car was idling in the garage the oil pressure had dropped to almost the bottom. Is this normal? The oil light has never come one. I haven't had time yet, but I'm going to check the oil level and I'm changing it anyways this weekend.

Also, I beat on the car a little on the way down to the emissions place to warm up the cats. I am having problems with grinding while trying to shift fast. I don't know if it me not pushing the clutch in far enough or if I have a real problem here. If I shift slower it is fine.

[2old]

1) yes, the oil gauge in our cars vary quite a bit... I wouldn't worry about it unless it does not climb when you are running at higher RPMs... But if you feel paranoid, check the oil level.

2) Yes, most of our cars do that unless you have the syncronizers rebuild (and even then it depends on how fast you are "mashing gears")... Try and match revs when you shift.

[VR43000GT]

Agreed, synchros are a common flaw in the 3/S. And the oil pressure guages are known to be rather unreliable. Mine always says the oil pressure is a little low but does climb back into the "normal" range as my rpm's really start to go up. Nothing to really worry about. But as said, check your oil anyway. I usually check mine every other day anyway no matter what car it is because I just dont trus the guages on cars.

[Polygon]

Well, I'm going to check on the oil tonight when I get home. I'll just have to get used the clutch I guess. I'm used the GTC which is a cable driven clutch and has quite a bit of modulation and this Stealth doesn't.

Thanks for the help guys.

[Igovert500]

do a search for low oil pressure on 3si if you want a few hours worth of reading material. Most of our cars have an issue with it, luckily mine doesn't yet, but that doesn't mean much to me...the general concensus is most of our stock gauges really aren't accurate enough for the general car enthusiast. Aftermarket gauges are really the way to go.

Stealth316-> garage -> AWD oil change and use Redline fluids
That and start double clutching

[YogsVR4]

Originally Posted by 2old

1) yes, the oil gauge in our cars vary quite a bit... I wouldn't worry about it unless it does not climb when you are running at higher RPMs... But if you feel paranoid, check the oil level.

2) Yes, most of our cars do that unless you have the syncronizers rebuild (and even then it depends on how fast you are "mashing gears")... Try and match revs when you shift.

If the oil level is fine then I wouldn't worry - as long as it doesn't stay on the lowest reading.

[Polygon]

Well, I checked the oil last night and it was over the full mark. I wonder, if the person that owned it before me used a thin oil if that would cause an overly low reading? I am changing the oil on Saturday with some Mobil 1 15w50 and I'm hoping that will correct the problem.

[YogsVR4]

I wouldn't think the thickness of the oil would consufe the pressure gauge.

[youngvr4]

it wont, i use to use 20 50w and it doesnt make a difference

the guauge will only show whats really going on with the oil in the engine unless your at high rpm,s 3000 and up, otherwise it just drops

and it sounds like your blocking rings have gone bad, or are getting bad

is the grinding happening with all gears or just specific one's?

[AutostradaVR4]

the stock gauge is garbage. I recall reading on 3si that someone was able to raise their pressure reading just by cleaning the sensor. Also, someone replaced the stock gauge with a new stock gauge and it read completely different. I wouldnt worry about it. An aftermarket gauge is a must on these cars. In case you havnt figured it out, the stock boost gauge is WAY off too. Just dont run it low on oil and youll be fine.

[liquidPunk]

My oil pressure guage is completely broken... shows flat all the time (unless ive been running with no oil... hmmm... ill be right back... AHHHHHH )

But at least it doesnt give me a false sense of security... i check my oil most every day... but ill get it fixed eventually.

[Polygon]

Originally Posted by youngvr4

it wont, i use to use 20 50w and it doesnt make a difference

the guauge will only show whats really going on with the oil in the engine unless your at high rpm,s 3000 and up, otherwise it just drops

and it sounds like your blocking rings have gone bad, or are getting bad

is the grinding happening with all gears or just specific one's?

The grinding happens only when I'm shifting fast. I have only been up to third so far while doing that. So it did it in second and third. As for the gauge problem, this is really bothering me. Can I have a shop test the oil pressure? I don't want to spin a bearing.

[sLADe781]

Originally Posted by liquidPunk

My oil pressure guage is completely brolen... shows flat all the time (unless ive been running with no oil... hmmm... ill be right back... AHHHHHH )

It took me forever to find the lines that connect to the oil pressure and oil sensor. LOL I looked and looked and looked a bit more but couldn't find it until one day I was down there doing something else and randomly saw the two line. Hehe

[Polygon]

I just wanted to post an update.

I changed the oil Saturday. I spoke with the previous owner and he is not sure what oil was last used as he did not own it long enough to change the oil. Seems some old lady owned it before him and I'm sure she took it to an oil lube place. After changing the oil that was VERY apparent.

First off the oil was overfilled. The next problem was that the filter was on too tight so I had to jam a screw driver through it to get enough leverage to loosen it. They also didn't lube the gasket on the oil filter. The oil was very black and not very smooth. I assume that it was 10w30 conventional. That and the fact that the oil smelled. I think it had been sheared and broke down. I filled it with about 4 1/2 quarts of Mobile 1 15w50 full synthetic. As soon as I started up the car the oil pressure went up to the normal operating range. Tomorrow when I take it down to the car wash to degrease the engine I'll see how that holds up once the car is up to operating temp.

Alright here is another update, and some more worries.

1. After going down to wash it and let the car warm up the oil pressure stayed just below the normal operating range. At idle it was about two ticks from the bottom.

2. The coolant overflow cap won't stay on and it keeps dumping coolant. The engine temp stays under the middle, but I wonder if the engine is getting too hot and that is contributing to the oil pressure issue?

3. On my way down to the car wash, when I got to the bottom of the hill from my house and turned on to the main road, as soon as I hit a bump it started making a clunking noise from the rear. There was no pattern and it increased with speed. As soon as you would hit the brakes it would go away. This continued after the I washed the car for about a mile and then it went away. I kept hitting bumps to try and get it to come back but it wouldn't make the noise again.

Any ideas?

[Linebckr49]

1. that's normal for our cars. at idle the gauge reads low. when you give it gas, the gauge will rise, then fall as you let off the gas.

2. since you discovered the engine had too much oil, perhaps there is too much coolant in the engine?

3. not entirely sure. i would think it could only be a few things: (a)perhaps driveshaft? (carrier bearing, u-joints, i dunno i don't have a TT), (b) perhaps it was something in your trunk? make sure the trunk trays are secured underneath the carpet cover. make sure contents of trunk trays aren't bumping around. also, make sure the spare tire is securely fastened. these things all have moved around in my car and make clunking sounds like you described when i hit bumps. also, perhaps the exhaust in the rear isn't as secure as it should be. check the mounting points from where it hangs and their respective rubber bushings.

honestly, i wouldn't worry about it that if the noise went away, and you couldn't bring it back after re-creating the circumstances.