OT-I need tech help with the oil pressure in my '99 Tahoe!

I pulled in the driveway the other night and my Check Guages light was on, I look down and the oil pessure was at zero. I tapped the gas and it shot up to about 40psi and the light went out and never came back on. A couple pf days later it did the same thing. It's doing this off and on, nothing consistant.

So my question is, do I really have an oil pressure problem, or could my gauge be going bad? I have good oil pressure all the time(60psi and hiway speeds). This is really bugging me.

 

sending unit....

 

Might want to try a search here:
I've found some good info for my truck on this forum.
http://www.fullsizechevy.com/forums/

Malcolm

 

I'm going to ***ume theres enough oil in it and it gets changed regularly.

My thought is the sending unit.

If you can get the specs on it, ohm it and see if it is working correctly. Or check voltage output on it. Those are the 2 ways to check it, depending on what system it uses.

Make sure all your engine grounds are clean and corrosion free as well.

 

They have lots of problems with the sending units. Just swap it out, keep life simple!

 

check the connections on the presser switch also look for oil inside the connector 90% of the time it will be the switch.
Good luck.

 

There is about a zillion bad I.P. clusters out there.......and they are not serviceable, unless you are a Delco approved facility. If all else fails, it's IPC time

 

if it's not the switch/sending uniit a couple things to try....

Swap the oil filter - there have been known to be bad ones on real rare oc***ions that cause low pressure... Also try running some thicker oil - that thing probably recommends 10W30? (***uming you're like most people - can you verify what did the quickie-lube place put in?? could have been 5W20) Try 10W40 or even better some good 15W40 - if that brings the idle pressure up a bit then you've got a clearance problem in the engine somewhere (bearings are most likely suspect)

Start with the basics and go from there... verify actual readings with a mechanical gauge before tearing into it...

 

What year????

 

my 99 escalade did the same thing and it was the sending unit..

 

When my oil pressure light came on, I checked the valve train. Good pressure. Disconnected sending unit, plugged it back in and light went out.

 

sending unit, my suburban did the same thing.

 

Stop guessing!!!!! Put a F*&%ing mechanical gauge in place of the sender and verify the complaint is not in the engine before condemning the cluster. You may need to put a T fitting under the o.e. sender as some G.M. senders are used to prove oil pressure for fuel pump operation( multi wire senders).
As for the filter theory Chevy small and big blocks (not LS series , have a byp*** in the filter adapter that will open if the filter becomes plugged. You will still have oil pressure)!

 

Thanks everone, ya'll have been a ton of help. I haven't had a chance to mess with it yet, but like I said, it comes and goes, so it would be kinda tough to put a gauge on it and watch it. I'm going to get under it tomorrow and report back with my findings.

Thanks!

 

Run an 1/8" nylon line inside to a gauge and tie it to the steering column or other easy to see place!
Your local parts house should sell gauge install kits.
I keep one with about 8' of 1/4" nylon air brake tube and an ***ortment of fittings. Plenty of diagnostic uses!
Just be sure to tie it outside if checking fuel pressure!!!

 

Will that work on my Vega too?

 

actually his tahoe is a cl***ic body style... They got pretty good clusters.. The 2000-2006 tahoe/suburbans, and 99-06 silverados got the ****ty IPCs.