Oil pressure gauge - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

linc400 · 10-08-2014, 03:46 PM

Ok, so this morning I am driving, and could not avoid running over this large block of wood in the street (I was going 50, SUV in front cleared it, I didn't see it until too late and couldn't change lanes). I heard this loud, nasty thunk, and it split in 2 and was rolling behind my car. I stopped, expected the front bumper to be totally destroyed, but it was fine. I checked for fluid leaks but didn't see any.

Parked it at work, several hours later left for lunch, still no leaks.

But now the oil pressure gauge is showing 70 PSI (the absolute maximum on the gauge) even with mild acceleration. It drops down to about 30 PSI when coasting. I thought it was always in the 15-30 PSI range before, but never really paid that close of attention to it. It looks to be down about half a quart of oil. I don't know if that makes a difference.

I called OnStar/GM and they just said the gauge is supposed to fluctuate. My dealership said the same thing. But I want to make sure there is no huge problem before I drive it home 30 miles. Like I said, I don't recall it maxing out on every mild acceleration before. It is a 2012 V-6 automatic

3rdgen3 · 10-08-2014, 05:00 PM

This is easy.

With the car OFF, turn the key to the ON position but do NOT start the car.

Is the oil pressure gauge sitting at 30psi or 0psi? If its sitting at 30, then the sender has gone bad. If it's at 0, then its working properly.

It should be checked against a mechanical gauge to be sure.

christianchevell · 10-08-2014, 06:14 PM

15 is too low of a oil pressure it should have always said around 30 or above for most cars the oil is thicker on start up and the oil when cold goes down eventually to about 30 psi.

kaly · 10-09-2014, 07:20 AM

I watched my pressure gauge this morning (V6 LFX) and it was maxxed out for a while whenever I was moving. After about 20 minutes when it warmed up, it settled back into middle.

ToddB · 10-09-2014, 07:30 AM

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Flashpoint135 · 10-09-2014, 09:07 AM

My oil pressure gauge has always behaved / read just like you described in your first post. Also - no way the incident would have caused high oil pressure.

In other words, don't worry, all is fine.

linc400 · 10-09-2014, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flashpoint135

My oil pressure gauge has always behaved / read just like you described in your first post. Also - no way the incident would have caused high oil pressure.

In other words, don't worry, all is fine.

Ok, great. I was just worried that maybe the oil pan or something I couldn't see got smashed and caused the oil pressure to be higher.

I also stopped by the dealer yesterday and asked to drive a new V6 Camaro with gauges to see if it behaved the same. They didn't have any except for a 2011 used one. They let me drive that and it just said 70 max at all times. I thought maybe it didn't work. But after it warmed up some it started dropping to 30 and then back up to 70 any time you hit the gas.

Mine did the same thing this morning. It also seems to drop down from 70 a little quicker since I added 1/2 a quart of oil yesterday. So I guess it is ok.

nyrfan · 10-09-2014, 11:59 AM

1 word: Normal

You've never noticed it, but it's always done it. As you'll notice there is no red line on the high side, only the low.

linc400 · 10-09-2014, 04:56 PM

Ok, thanks. Good to know everything seems ok then.

Rocky1974 · 10-09-2014, 08:53 PM

Almost any damage that you could have done would have caused you to have less oil pressure, not more.

10-08-2014, 03:46 PM	#1
linc400 Drives: 2012 2LT 45th anniversary convert Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Chicago Posts: 265	Oil pressure gauge Ok, so this morning I am driving, and could not avoid running over this large block of wood in the street (I was going 50, SUV in front cleared it, I didn't see it until too late and couldn't change lanes). I heard this loud, nasty thunk, and it split in 2 and was rolling behind my car. I stopped, expected the front bumper to be totally destroyed, but it was fine. I checked for fluid leaks but didn't see any. Parked it at work, several hours later left for lunch, still no leaks. But now the oil pressure gauge is showing 70 PSI (the absolute maximum on the gauge) even with mild acceleration. It drops down to about 30 PSI when coasting. I thought it was always in the 15-30 PSI range before, but never really paid that close of attention to it. It looks to be down about half a quart of oil. I don't know if that makes a difference. I called OnStar/GM and they just said the gauge is supposed to fluctuate. My dealership said the same thing. But I want to make sure there is no huge problem before I drive it home 30 miles. Like I said, I don't recall it maxing out on every mild acceleration before. It is a 2012 V-6 automatic

10-08-2014, 05:00 PM	#2
3rdgen3 10-bolt Destroyer Drives: 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS - AGM, LS3/6M Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Canukistan Posts: 860	This is easy. With the car OFF, turn the key to the ON position but do NOT start the car. Is the oil pressure gauge sitting at 30psi or 0psi? If its sitting at 30, then the sender has gone bad. If it's at 0, then its working properly. It should be checked against a mechanical gauge to be sure. __________________ 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS - LS3/TR6060: Cam, Headers, Exhaust, Intake, Gears, Twin Disk, Suspension, Tuned - 475rwhp, 443rwtq

10-08-2014, 06:14 PM	#3
christianchevell old school chevy rodder Drives: 2013 2SS/RS Manual,DM exhaust,CRT Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,587 View My Garage	15 is too low of a oil pressure it should have always said around 30 or above for most cars the oil is thicker on start up and the oil when cold goes down eventually to about 30 psi. __________________ 2021 Wild Cherry ZL1 A10, Sunroof, Data, Carbon, Nav, RotoFab Dry CAI, Elite x2, Borla ATK, Driveshaft shop

10-09-2014, 07:30 AM	#5
ToddB Drives: 2011 2SS Convertible Supercharged Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: WI Cert Welder Navy NSSN Posts: 1,157	Oil pressure gauge Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

10-09-2014, 09:07 AM	#6
Flashpoint135 Drives: 2016 SS Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Newark, NY Posts: 1,283	My oil pressure gauge has always behaved / read just like you described in your first post. Also - no way the incident would have caused high oil pressure. In other words, don't worry, all is fine. __________________

10-09-2014, 07:20 AM	#4
kaly Drives: 2017 Camaro 2SS. 2013 Camaro 2LT/RS Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Maryland Posts: 40 View My Garage	I watched my pressure gauge this morning (V6 LFX) and it was maxxed out for a while whenever I was moving. After about 20 minutes when it warmed up, it settled back into middle.

10-09-2014, 11:59 AM	#8
nyrfan Let's go Rangers! Drives: 13' AGM 2SS/RS L99 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 10,742 View My Garage	1 word: Normal You've never noticed it, but it's always done it. As you'll notice there is no red line on the high side, only the low. __________________ Soprano 4/1/00-6/14/11, Gone but NEVER forgotten! FSP tuned: 377/389

10-09-2014, 04:56 PM	#9
linc400 Drives: 2012 2LT 45th anniversary convert Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Chicago Posts: 265	Ok, thanks. Good to know everything seems ok then.

10-09-2014, 08:53 PM	#10
Rocky1974 Drives: 2010 RJT 2SS M6 Camaro Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Garrison,KY Posts: 1,548 View My Garage	Almost any damage that you could have done would have caused you to have less oil pressure, not more. __________________ 2010 RJT 2SS M6, Kooks Long Tubes, NPP Exhaust, CAI Cold Air w/Jannetty Scoop, RotoFab Washer Bottle, Elite Engineering Catch Can, MGW Shifter w/ZL1 Shaft and Knob, 2015 SS Sedan Steering Wheel and Air Bag, 2012 Heater Hose Conversion, 2012 Power Seat Conversion, RS Head Lights,Gen5DIY RS Conversion Harness, LED Fog Lamp Bulbs, Backup Camera Kit, NLP Spoiler, SLP Splitter, ZL1 Rockers and Diffuser, Color Matched Shark Fin, RS Roof Mouldings, Painted White Stripes, WCC LS3 Emblems, Heritage Grille and Blacked Out Tail Light Panel w/Retro SS Emblems, 416 RWHP, 411 RWT, Tuned by BlueCat.