Low Oil Pressure Alarm

[bvlmv]

Hi,

I' recently gave my 5.0Gi PWTR it's first oil change and used the VP recommended grade SAE 30 (PENNZOIL BRAND). For the first time this past weekend I got a low oil pressure alarm while idling to the sandbar and back to the dock. This didn't happen while going at high speeds. I did verify the correct oil amount and my bilge was clean when I docked.
I haven't been able to replicate this while running on muffs so putting a mechanical gauge is not going to help much now.
Just curious, being that my engine is a 99 could the oil grade have caused this? Should I

Thanks!

 

[Don S]

Re: Low Oil Pressure Alarm

How do you know it was low oil pressure and not a high engine temp alarm?
What did the gauges show during the alarm?

No, the type or grade of the oil is not the problem.

 

[bvlmv]

Re: Low Oil Pressure Alarm

The oil pressure needle what hitting the low red marker while the alarm was going off. The temp gauge was between 1/2 to 3/4 of the way up.

 

[Don S]

Re: Low Oil Pressure Alarm

Your low oil pressure switch and the oil pressure sender are two different units, and not connected in any way.
I would say you do have an oil pressure problem of some sort.
Since you just changed oil, and assume you replaced the filter too, I would replace that filter again, it may be defective and causing the problem.

 

[bvlmv]

Re: Low Oil Pressure Alarm

Got it. I'll work on that this weekend.

Thanks again Don.

 

[bvlmv]

Re: Low Oil Pressure Alarm

Hi Don,
Just a quick update on this issue. I started the engine up today to see if I can replicate the issue and sure enough on the first try the oil pressure needle on the dash stayed on low red and the oil light/beep started up. I'm still waiting the oil filter to arrive but could this be an indication of something additional? I wasn't able to replicate the alarm after.

 

[Don S]

Re: Low Oil Pressure Alarm

Go to Napa and get a standard Chevy oil filter and see what happens.

 

[bvlmv]

Re: Low Oil Pressure Alarm

Hi Don,

I was finally able to change the oil filter and I'm getting a low oil pressure from the start. I had a spare oil pressure sender guage and swapped it out to test but no luck.

Here is a video of what I'm experiencing. Happy 4th!

 

[Don S]

Re: Low Oil Pressure Alarm

Go to an automotive parts store and get a mechanical oil pressure gauge and temporarily replace the gauge sender with the mechanical gauge and see what it shows.

 

[bvlmv]

Re: Low Oil Pressure Alarm

The local stores around here (advance/autozone) only have dash oil gauges. Will this work compression tester do the job?

Actron/Professional compression tester (CP7828) | Compression Tester | AutoZone.com

Otherwise I'll have to take a trip to harbor freight for this

Engine Oil Pressure Test Kit

 

[Don S]

Re: Low Oil Pressure Alarm

No you don't want a compression tester. The oil pressure test kit will work fine. even a dash gage with a short tube will work, doesn't have to be fancy, it's only going to get used one time. (Hopefully)

 

[bvlmv]

Re: Low Oil Pressure Alarm

Got caught up with the festivities yesterday but here is the result of putting a mechanical oil pressure guage.

 

[bvlmv]

Re: Low Oil Pressure Alarm

I just noticed this loose cable dangling right above the oil filter and it looks like a bolt is alsomissing. Could this be the cause? I don't have any oil leaking in the bilge