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Topic: oil pressure guage

in Forum: C3 Engines

oil pressure guage

Posted: 10/31/14 5:01pm Message 1 of 2
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Former Member
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Joined: 3/24/2014
Posts: 62
Vette(s): 1980 c3
My car has good oil pressure but the needle bounces a lot, the gauge or do you think the sending unit or do you think something else ?


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Re: oil pressure guage

Posted: 10/31/14 8:36pm Message 2 of 2
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WEST SENECA, NY - USA
Joined: 12/3/2001
Posts: 2379
Vette(s): 1981 Blue Ice Met. w/pearl ghost flames TKO500 5speed. LS1 Swap 3.45 Dana 44.
Is it bouncing around mainly at idle or cruising or both? More at idle and less at cruising or the same at both?

This is a common problem with small block chevy's. The oil pressure sending unit on yours is at the top of the engine and is prone to air bubble to form inside when the engine is off. The air bubble usually stays there and can cause some fluctuation. Check your electrical connection at the OPSU for corrosion and looseness. 

You could try a new sending unit since they are fairly cheap. Gauges aren't cheap, plus they are a pain to change out.

My oil pressure gauge bounces even with the new Gen III LS engine. I relocated the OEM sending unit to above the oil filter, but the sending unit points upwards allowing air to become trapped causing a irratic needle occasionally at idle. Cruising it stays fairly steady but it does twitch once in awhile. I can live with that. 




GEN III 5.7L "LS6" Engine swap
TKO500 5 spd.
3.54 Dana 44
'69 "N11" Sidepipes
Borgeson Steering Box
Born 8/1981
Sequence #3975




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