My dad has an 89 grand prix with 205,xxx miles on the clock. I think this has a 3100 efi engine, but I’m not sure.
On his way into work the oil pressure gauge would bounce around between the middle and the upper end of the gauge. This would happen when the rpm’s were between idle and about 1800. The problems would stop if he gave the car some gas, like above 2000 rpm the problem would go away.
He checked the oil and it was in the good range. The only things I could think of is that the oil pump is going, the screen to the pump is clogged, or it’s an electrical fault with the oil pressure sensor.
Any thoughts or ideas for things to try would be appreciated.
Thanks,
chris
that’s what we were thinking.
This may be a bonehead question, but it’s OK to drive on right? I mean the pump should still be circulating oil as long as the engine is on, it’s just that the sender isn’t sending the correct pressure reading to the dash?
chris
p.s. thanks for the reply.
It’s fine to drive on unless you’re losing oil from the sender.
I had this problem with my Beretta (3100 SFI) The sender was leaking and it was bouncing a little bit/reading really low. The sender was reading almost at 0 and then the computer started cutting fuel to the motor because it didn’t think there was any oil pressure. Replaced the sender and everything was fine. But as long as it’s not dropping to zero you should be fine.
Make sure to buy the right sender, depending on if you have just the light or an actual gauge on the dash.