Oil Pressure gauge reading 0psi at idle..

robertpaige · Post by **robertpaige** » Sun Apr 06, 2014 2:12 am

So I have a Glowshift Oil Pressure gauge, it's not the nicest but it's an electronic gauge. I put the sender on the oil galley where the oil light plugs into. When cold it jumps up to around 60 psi and when it's hot, at idle it sits on 0 and if I blip the throttle it goes upto like 10psi. At 2k it sits around 20psi I beleive.

Is there any way I would be reading less than 1psi at idle or is this gauge just screwed? I have been driving my car with this hooked up for about a month, so I feel like if my OP was this low I would have destroyed the motor by now.

Thoughts?

SILINC3R · Post by **SILINC3R** » Sun Apr 06, 2014 4:51 am

I have been using Glowshift since 07 and think they are great for the low price and quality. And yes if in fact your oil was that low REALLY, your motor would seize. I have yet to install my pressure gauge but perhaps you could get the sandwich adapter as well. Never had a problem with the adapter I bought from them.

Hopefully the other fellows can chime in on this.

robertpaige · Post by **robertpaige** » Sun Apr 06, 2014 7:06 am

Hmm okay. I think I may just have a bad sender then.

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Splinter · Post by **Splinter** » Tue Apr 08, 2014 4:24 am

they'll read kinda funky if the ground at the gauge has a potential difference to the ground at the sender.

robertpaige · Post by **robertpaige** » Tue Apr 08, 2014 6:41 am

They both use different grounds. I think I'll try and run them to them same location. Thanks for the tip!

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robertpaige · Post by **robertpaige** » Wed May 07, 2014 1:10 am

Bringing this back to life.

I got a new gauge, Prosport electrical gauge. Hooked it up, and it reads 0 at Idle.... just like the Glowshift did.

I am running a braided line from the galley behind the alternator (dummy light) into the sender.

It's been like this for weeks, there is no WAY my engine would be running if my oil pressure is this low. Does anybody have any input? I might switch the reading location to the back of the block and see if anything changes..

robertpaige · Post by **robertpaige** » Wed May 07, 2014 11:33 pm

I put the sender straight on the block. No changes. I put 15w30 with Lucas oil stabilizer. Idle Oil Pressure sits about 4psi/5psi.

Lol

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robertpaige · Post by **robertpaige** » Thu May 08, 2014 5:04 am

Anyone?

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mike-tracy · Post by **mike-tracy** » Thu May 08, 2014 5:12 am

So is the sender the same as used with the previous gauge? How about wiring? All new? Any serious knocking noises at idle?

A lot of the guides for wrx's have the sender going to the back of the block like you mentioned.

robertpaige · Post by **robertpaige** » Thu May 08, 2014 6:43 am

I have used two different electronic gauges, with 2 different senders. Plugged into the stock oil pressure light location.

The car drives normal, and pulls normal. No knocking, ever so far. Not at idle. Cold oil pressure is in the 60-70 range.

I'm going to drop my pan and check for a cracked pickup tube.

macipusy · Post by **macipusy** » Thu May 08, 2014 3:10 pm

I would throw a mechanical gauge on just for verification. My electronic transducer was 5 psi off across the range from the mechanical unit.

I'm also trying to figure out low idle pressure....mine is 5-11 psi depending on oil temp.

robertpaige · Post by **robertpaige** » Thu May 08, 2014 8:42 pm

What mechanical gauge did you use?

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robertpaige · Post by **robertpaige** » Thu May 08, 2014 8:59 pm

Also how is your car behaving? Running normal?

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macipusy · Post by **macipusy** » Thu May 08, 2014 9:26 pm

I used a Matco mechanical gauge I borrowed from a friend.

Car has been running fine. The oil was a little too black when I changed it at 500 miles...but my motor is still pretty new.
No excessive metal on the drain plug, but still makes me nervous.

I swapped out oil pumps and pressure did not change at all. I am now stepping up to 11mm pump. I should know tomorrow how that changed pressure at idle and in other areas.

What pressure are you topping out at, at full RPMs?

Also, the oil pickup tube could be a place to look.

robertpaige · Post by **robertpaige** » Fri May 09, 2014 7:55 pm

Greeeaaaatttt[WEARY FACE]

At idle.

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robertpaige · Post by **robertpaige** » Fri May 09, 2014 8:18 pm

Do you think a bigger oil pump would help?

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macipusy · Post by **macipusy** » Fri May 09, 2014 8:44 pm

At least it's not 0 psi.

I just installed the 11mm on my car....it did not help max RPM pressure (in my case), but hot idle pressure looks 3-5 psi higher.

What are you seeing for pressure at 5-6K RPM?

robertpaige · Post by **robertpaige** » Fri May 09, 2014 8:48 pm

Where did you get it and how much did it cost?

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macipusy · Post by **macipusy** » Fri May 09, 2014 8:50 pm

I got it from Subaru....08+ STi pump. It was $180. I think 135 from genuinesubaruparts.com but 30 for shipping.

robertpaige · Post by **robertpaige** » Fri May 09, 2014 9:20 pm

Okay. 08+ will fit an EJ22T?

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robertpaige · Post by **robertpaige** » Sun May 11, 2014 12:25 am

Figured it out!!!! The pumps screws were backing out. Thread lock and it's all good.

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dankberries · Post by **dankberries** » Sun May 11, 2014 12:48 am

robertpaige wrote:Figured it out!!!! The pumps screws were backing out. Thread lock and it's all good.

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Sorry I'm a little confused. Could you clarify?
The oil pump screws where backing out? Like your oil pump was coming off your motor? Massive oil leak?

robertpaige · Post by **robertpaige** » Sun May 11, 2014 1:46 am

The screws that are on the inside of the pump that hold the rotor were starting to come loose. I guess it's a common thing that people have reported before. I didn't think about checking until now because the pump is new. I tested the pump pressure.

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mike-tracy · Post by **mike-tracy** » Sun May 11, 2014 4:45 pm

WOW, Good thing you didnt just accept that your gauges weren't reading right.

robertpaige · Post by **robertpaige** » Sun May 11, 2014 4:58 pm

Yeah seriously. I knew something wasn't right. Lol

macipusy, pull the plug out of the left side of the oil pump and test the pressure from there.

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