Is it a mechanical gauge or an electronic one? I wouldnt trust an electronic oil pressure gauge, I rather have an actual line going to it with oil running through it, that way I can get an exact reading without electronics being involved.

You said the gauge reads 0psi at idle, maybe its a shitty gauge, also just because it is near 0psi or on 0psi dosnt mean its bad oil pressure, here for example is the oil pressure for a D16Z6 right from the manual.

@ Idle = 10psi
@ 3000RPM = 50 psi

( my gauge starts at 20, sometimes on rainy days with shitty low idle (500ish)especially with the car warm the needle looks like its touching 0 but touch the throttle a hair and you will notice it climb very fast)

Try another good mechanical gauge and hook it up directly to your engine with the provided hardware, see if the reading changes, its the only way to be sure.

On a cool day I'm normailly making about 12psi at idle on my B16 and 55 psi @ 3200 RPM, climbs all the way past 60 on a full throttle pull but if I'm cruising at fullhigh rpm it will jump back down to the 50 + psi mark, I spec'd out my oil pump and its within service limits, the gauge is a bit off sometimes, this also depends on oil used, obviously thicker oil will give you a different reading than thinner oil, as long as you are wihin the specified service limit you'll be fine.

 

spung bearing?

 

Where is the oil pressure sender hooked up?


I had the same problem. I would get 15 or so idling and 50 by 2000rpms.

I installed the oil pressure sender off of a tee that feed the turbo.


Engine-----------Tee---------------------Tee---------------Turbo
| |
| |
OEM Switch Sender


Now the sender will read the oil pressure to the turbo, not the engine anymore. At idle it will be almost 3-5 and it will never get above 30 after the engine oil is at operating temp.

 

how long / good can a car run and drive with a spun bearing? just wondering cause my z6 has a slight knock around 3k rpms sence 4k miles ago maybe more

 

The crank is toast.

 

ok people just an update....it is an electrical autometer carbon fiber gauge and when i had the car on the hoist with the turbo...it would read 60psi at idle....and then after putting the downpipe on and o2's and taking it for a drive the pressure went to around 0 on the gauge and started to overheat....

im getting the car up to operating temp as we speak and am going to make a video of it if i can replicate the problem....

 

ok quick reply.....after sitting for a whole weekend and the car is cold...the gauge is reading 25-35psi....but most of the time a steady 35psi THIS IS AT COLD.....now its starting to go up to normal operating temp and as it does the oil pressure gauge is going down




and i have it setup in the T that feeds the turbo ( Engine ----------Turbo ----Oil pressure gauge)



now as i am posting the msg the oil pressure is almost down around 0psi and the car is at operating temps

Mike

 

If it's electrical then the sender could be clogged.

Back in the day the first time I installed an electronic oil pressure gauge I put that white thread tape on the threads, and a little somehow got into the tiny opening in the sensor. So a few days after I installed it the gauge went to zero and I couldn't figure out why because the car was running fine and I was sure I had oil pressure. So I took the sensor off and found that it was clogged, pulled the gunk out of there and it worked great after that.

Just something to check.

Oh, and my electronic gauge reads 22psi at warm idle.

*edit*

After seeing the above picture, I can see why your gauge is reading low. I have my oil setup similar to yours but mine is a T on the firewall. Before I ran my oil line to the turbo it would read 22 at idle, and after I ran the line to the turbo it read lower. I always assumed this was because the oil is flowing past the sensor, so the sensor sees less pressure.

I could be wrong though.

 

You just trying to kill that thing? Fram filter, FMU, SSauto setup. Just messing with you. Looks nice though.

 

ok now after letting the car idle for a while....the thermostat opened but my fan didnt kick on and it started overheating at idle....now im not sure if this is because of the oil pressure or the engine is just overheating....

any ideas?