Diagnosing low oil pressure
 

Hi All,

So to set the scene here. Yesterday my innovate mtx oil pressure/temp gauge started throwing some weird readings anywhere from 0-16psi at idle whereas it normal sits at about 18-22psi. On the freeway as well at about 3k rpm it was diving to about 30 sometimes.

I should add as well that the temp and pressure probes are connected to a brand new beatrush sandwich plate under my filter, no leaks etc.

So one thing is, I purchased this gauge second hand and it had been used for about 2 years. The gauge has been in my possession for about 2 months now and has been totally fine.

My temperatures are all reading as stable when Ive been driving for awhile so nothing out of normal there. Car sounds totally fine, but I am still slightly concerned. (If it matters I am N/A tuned at 51,000KM)

Is there a way rather than forking out for either a new gauge or pressure sender to diagnose if the oil pressure is actually low? I mean i'd hate to just assume it is the pressure sender and then one day my engine suddenly seizes up.

Thoughts appreciated.

I would think its just the gauge/sender if its reading near 0 and they idiot light isn't coming on.

That is what I want to assume. Better safe than sorry I guess, but maybe I am just going to have to bite the bullet and try a new pressure sender.

Yeah start with the sending unit cuz they are cheaper then the gauge haha.

This just happened to me just 2-3 weeks ago. Same MTX oil press/temp gauge. Freaked me out. The engine was still running fine, no signs of anything abnormal except the pressure readings. the Sender ended up breaking(dont know how, been running it for 1.5 years) spewing oil out into my engine bay. fortunately I noticed a block or two from home and wasn't far away from home.

It happened relatively quick. Idk how long you've been driving it around with the weird readings. but it started spewing oil maybe 15 minutes after weird readings. If its not spewing oil i'd double checked your contacts and grounding connectings.

Edit: I bought a new sender from Innovate for 20 dollars and its back to normal.... I dont really feel that great about it since the first one failed so i'm contemplating buying a completely different pressure gauge.

Only way to figure out your pressure is to get an actual mechanical pressure gauge and see what the readings are.

-alex

No signs of leaking, checked all the wires and ground totally solid. Went and purchased the new sender (Didn't realize it was so cheap). I know something is messed up because the readings are all over the map. Like cruising at a steady 2500rpm and the oil goes 20-60-40-10-40etc. When it worked properly id have maybe a 3psi fluctuation at a steady rpm range.