Oil pressure low when idling

[Jbro238]

When I'm sitting still my oil pressure is at 0

When I speed up it goes up

Checked the filter and plug they aren't loose

There seems to be lots of oil buildup underneath

What could it be? Oil pump?

[nos4blood70]

Oil pumps are completely solid on these cars. As far as I know, there hasn't ever been a documented failure. Sounds like the motor may be toast... Does the engine feel like it's got low oil pressure? The oil pressure sensors on these motors are known to go bad and cause all kinds of trouble.

Where is the oil build up mainly?

[Jbro238]

Boo that's not what I wanted to here! It's buildup on the underside of the car. Underneath the oil pan running back towards the back of the car. Almost like it's coming out of the crank seal.
The engine runs fine. I drove it 10 hours home yesterday.

[Jbro238]

But how would I know what an engine with low oil pressure feels like?? Haha

[nos4blood70]

The idle would not be smooth, and it wouldn't rev happily. Various cluttering noises from the valvetrain.

[Jbro238]

Havnt noticed any of the mentioned things. Although I could be turning a blind eye/ear to it for the sake oft my love for the car haha.

The gauge just goes to zero and the panel says "check gauges oil pressure"
Maybe a little lag in acceleration but idk. Could just be me. I've been trying to be nice to it in case and I stopped driving it today

[crash93ssei]

When my SE lost oil pressure, the lifters collapsed and quickly sounded like the engine was going to rattle itself apart / blow up. I would get a mechanical gauge on it or at least a new sending unit to confirm the low pressure, and I wouldn't drive it until that gets done.

[Jbro238]

Well looks like I need to bring it to the shop Tommorrow cuz that's something I definitely don't know how to do. They are gonna try and rape me for hourly charges. Oh how I wish I new more about cars

[Archon]

I agree with Ryan. At least try a new oil pressure sender. The normal failure is for them to read maximum, but it's not unheard of for them to fail on the low side. You should hear lots of noise from the engine if you truly are losing pressure.

Changing the sender is relatively easy. Just follow the information in this techinfo article.
http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... 17496.html

[nos4blood70]

Changing the sensor adds 5 minutes to an oil change. Very easy.

[Jbro238]

I just got an oil change this Saturday which is a shame. But I'll see what I can do. The shop can't even LOOK at it till Tuesday. So I got all week

[Jbro238]

Would I hear lots of noise coming from the engine only when stopped? That's when I'm in the red and it's reading 0.

[Jrs3800]

If the oil pressure was actually 0 you would be hearing a lot of valvetrain noise for sure..

One day when parked, pop off the oil cap with the engine idling and see if there is oil flowing to the bottom of the head, it won't be a lot, but you should see some oil..

When you get the revs up what does the pressure go up to?

[Arrowhead]

Did the low/zero readings occur before you got the oil change ? Are you sure they were honest and qualified to do it according to specs ? Might just be a coincidence, then again, might not. What is the pressure reading at 3-4000 RPMs ?

[Jbro238]

JRS3800 and Arrowhead- when i get revs up it goes up to half pressure. ill check for accurate readings. checked- above 40 psi whenever i go above 2.5k rpm

at 3-4000 rms im above half so over 40

they didnt happen till 2 days after the oil change. but i also drove 2.5 hours to chicago from milwaukee (where i had it changed) and did alot of aggresive city driving and it didnt happen. then i drove it 10 hours home and it happenned when i pulled into town.

and as for the noise i did hear a little "scratching sound when i revved it, but i was actually listening for a noise this time. it very well could always have been like that cuz usually i just start her up and take off or im jammin to some tunes so it blares out the engine almost entirely (except for the supercharger whine, cant blare that out, thank goodness ;D )

at idle it sounds completely normal to me.

[yourgrandma]

Did you use super light weight oil? A lot of people want to run these 0w30 oils and you're gonna lose.oil pressure with oil that thin.

Something.else to watch is temperature. Start it cold and watch the pressure, then pay attention as it heats up.

[xxdabroxx]

I second what grandma suggests.

[nos4blood70]

Did the leaking around the crank seal just start? Maybe the shop put in some thin oil.

[Jbro238]

If the oil pressure was actually 0 you would be hearing a lot of valvetrain noise for sure..

One day when parked, pop off the oil cap with the engine idling and see if there is oil flowing to the bottom of the head, it won't be a lot, but you should see some oil..

When you get the revs up what does the pressure go up to?

JRS i dont know i tried what you said and i dont know what im looking at haha

as for everyone elses comments about thin oil,

just checked the receipt from valvoline and on the sheet it says they put the correct kind in it. not too thin,

also when i started it up and let it heat up it just stays around 0 or around the red but when i get the temp up to about 200, when i stop it beeps and goes completely to zero. i have a video
but it might not even help im scared to drive it in case it hurts the car
haha

[Jbro238]

and i would have noticed if the leaking started before now. it started when i got back to kansas.