Bimma86

Hi guys, gotta question. Well I just got this car 3 months ago and it is my first TPI. In my 86 IROC 305 TPI auto, I was wondering if this is normal. when first starting the car and it's cold the oil pressure gauge will read at like 40-45 and will stay there until I hit around 170 degrees. After that, then the oil pressure gauge drops to like 30 when driving, and when I stop at a light and hold the brake when stopped, the gauge sits at the first white peg mark (just before the lower big red mark). IS THIS NORMAL??? I checked the oil level and it is good.

Ed Maher

Yes what you are seeing is normal. Both the oil pressure sender and the guages in these cars are prone to failing and inaccuracy. Most often it's the sender, but it can happen that the guage itself has failed. The sender is ~$30 and is easy to swap. On most TPI f-cars it's mounted just above the oil filter (it's a small can shaped piece), although sometimes they are mounted on the back of the block by the distributor on the driver's side.
...ed

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Ed Maher - Moderator @ The TPI & Carb Boards
92 Z28 Convertible - Quasar blue / Tan top
305 TPI A4 2.73 - 14.8 @ 93.1
Stock except ported plenum and dual cats
-=ICON Motorsports=-

- Definitely prototypes, high powered mutants of some kind. Too weird to live, too cool to die

ViciousZ

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, like Ed said, that's fine. You really only need 10 psi oil for every 1000 rpm.

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91 Z28
Come see The Vicious...

mckenzie

yes, i have the same oil pressure reading, 60psi cold...30 when warm, driving...15 warm at a red light. gm has a updated gauge for oil pressure. if yours is like mine, the red goes almost to the 15psi mark...due to so many cust worried about oil pressure, they came out with a new one with the red mark not going as high. i would like my pressure to be more than 15psi at idle, but like said earlier, 10psi @ 1000 rpms per gm specs.

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86 iroc 305tpi auto. mild cam

Bimma86

thanks guys, I just wanted to know. I thought it was ok but I never knew where the gauge it SHOULD read at? Thanks to everyone who responded.

P.S. - Mckenzie, thanks again for the PROM chip part #!!! I appreciate it!! THANK YOU!