High oil pressure reading in cold weather

[bobjones003]

My 03 bonnieville is sometime posting 120 psi once started in the cold weather. Then after some running the oil pressure goes back to normal. It started yesterday the car was in the wind temps were in the single digits. It was 120 all the way home which was about 10 mile trip. Then it was high when I started then went stop at the gas to buy some pop when I refired it was posting 120 psi. Does this mean the oil send unit is going bad. If so can wait to replaced. I had it go in my 92 I don't remember it being that hard to replace or that expanse. The other thing I notice is that sometime in the morning when the car been sitting I get the secruity light on ,but If a refire the car light goes away. The car never seem to have issue starting in cold ie does not seem like the battery is have any issue. Always fires up quickly.

[00Beast]

Yes, sounds like a flaky sensor. Yes it can wait to be replaced, but it's better to do it sooner rather than later. Most of us here recommend AC Delco or Delphi, the aftermarket units quality isn't very consistent.

[dayton.reed]

Good luck with the tools on replacing that. There's a thread here somewhere where someone used channel-locks. When I bought an inferior part and had a second failure in about a year, I broke down and bought a deep 1 1/16" socket for 1/2" drive. I'll probably never use that thing again. It's like the size of a shot glass on the inside. 00Beast isn't kidding about getting a good one the first time.

[richardg]

I agree with the above 2! I used channel locks as well but it put some scratches on it since channel locks are are to maneuver on that sensor. Got AC Delco and should be good a a good long time.

[bobjones003]

OK sorry that it took long to replay. I am going to wait until we get a day above 50 and snow has melted. Now that temp are back in 20's-30's it is doing better. I will have to look up the other post. Yes I will use the recommend replace that 00Beast recomended.

[nos4blood70]

Mine failed about 2 weeks ago. I'm just gonna leave it till Spring when I will be due for an oil change.

[bobjones003]

Ok so the place that I have the warranty with the car claims that they think it is the motor that runs the gauge. I guess it could be never really thought about that being the issue. I guess that it could be. As note I had the motors that run the temp gauge and speedometer gauge and that did fix the issues. Thoughts on what they said are welcomed? It has not be fixed it will cost 100 for warranty work. I had thought of replace the oil send unit myself as I do not think the part will cost 100. My 92 I think in cost $30

[redzmonte]

most of the time the oil pressure acting funny is the sending unit not the gauge. its a cheap fix and its easy to do, might as well try it.

S

[bobjones003]

That is what I think.

[imidazol97]

Ok so the place that I have the warranty with the car claims that they think it is the motor that runs the gauge. I guess it could be never really thought about that being the issue. I guess that it could be. As note I had the motors that run the temp gauge and speedometer gauge and that did fix the issues. Thoughts on what they said are welcomed? It has not be fixed it will cost 100 for warranty work. I had thought of replace the oil send unit myself as I do not think the part will cost 100. My 92 I think in cost $30

You could try disconnecting the lead from the sender and see if the analog gauge still sticks at 120 when the dashboard temp is really cold. If I understand, you have the analog gauge and they do a full swipe on startup then settle to the reading from the gauge? Yours is sticking on that initial startup because of a defective motor? That should show up by just watching and seeing if the gauge settles back to zero before you start the engine.

As for the sender, mine failed at about 130K mi. Take off the oil filter (catch the small amount of oil that comes out of it and the filter adapter. Then channellocks work easily from the side. I had the car on ramps and could slide under easily to get at the sensor. The torque on the sender is not very high. Don't overtorque the new one. I got an ACDelco. The threads were already coated with a sealer.

[Archon]

It's relatively easy to replace.
http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... 17496.html