Oil Pressure went to 0 today - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Tony_SS · 05-14-2009, 01:32 PM

Hi guys..
I started my truck and the gauge read 0. It slightly moves a little but not much.

Any ideas? Could it be the gauge itself or the sender?

What's involved with changing out the sending unit?

TIA

78BO · 05-14-2009, 02:41 PM

If I remember right it just screws in/out.

79gmcc15 · 05-14-2009, 03:07 PM

try to find a mechanical gauge just to make sure that your pump didn't go out. then, if all is good. then go with the sending unit, I think there about ten bucks or about. if it still is reading bad, trace the wires to your gauge and make sure they aren't cut or shorting out. then if all is still good then my guess would be the gauge its self.

piecesparts · 05-14-2009, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 79gmcc15

try to find a mechanical gauge just to make sure that your pump didn't go out. then, if all is good. then go with the sending unit, I think there about ten bucks or about. if it still is reading bad, trace the wires to your gauge and make sure they aren't cut or shorting out. then if all is still good then my guess would be the gauge its self.

Ditto on getting a mechanical gauge to check it out, first.

Prong · 05-14-2009, 05:43 PM

Pull the lead off the sender and turn the ignition on. It should peg way past 60. Reconnect the lead and turn the ignition on. It should read 0 or very close to it. If it passes these 2 tests, the gauge is most likely ok.

88 Dippy · 05-14-2009, 06:27 PM

how is the oil level? my truck doese this when it is 1qt low

(i have a hole in my pan and it burns oil i go though a lot)

Tony_SS · 05-14-2009, 09:13 PM

Thanks for the help so far. I will check the gauge. But I think its reading right.

So I let the truck cool and started it back up to drive it home. Oil pressure was 30psi for about 3 miles then gradually went down to 0. Could this still be a bad sender or something else?

Still no sounds or burning oil smell. Oil level has been checked and is ok. I need transportation but don't want to blow the engine if this is serious.

**old Rusty C10** · 05-14-2009, 10:34 PM

still could be the sender

heavychevy79 · 05-14-2009, 11:11 PM

I replaced an old leaking one, and the new one showed 5-10 psi less than the old one.

billnorman · 05-15-2009, 06:19 AM

Sounds like a stuck pressure relief valve... perhaps a piece of debris in it. One Q&D way to fix this without pulling the pan is start it up cold, let it run about 30 secs, and IF you have oil pressure of 30 or so, rev the dinkus out of it, like zoom, zoom, zoom. The high pressure oil when cold rushing out of the relief valve will open it all the way, and wash the particle out. Alternate way 2 is add a can of Seafoam, and do the above. Seafoam is really good at cleaning things. I think you're supposed to take it out (change your oil) soon thereafter. The above is my opinion, don't sue me if it explodes.

kelsfine69 · 05-15-2009, 10:19 AM

Sounds like a sender, They were bad for that. I would go pick one up and put it in, its fairly easy.

Tony_SS · 05-15-2009, 01:52 PM

Well all my tools are packed up since we are moving soon so I dropped it off. The shop told me is was a bad switch and they are also able to fix those rattling brake calipers thank god! So I let them do the job.. I"m just happy its nothing major, just $180 parts and labor.

05-14-2009, 01:32 PM	#1
Tony_SS Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Washington, MO Posts: 643	Oil Pressure went to 0 today Hi guys.. I started my truck and the gauge read 0. It slightly moves a little but not much. Any ideas? Could it be the gauge itself or the sender? What's involved with changing out the sending unit? TIA

05-14-2009, 02:41 PM	#2
78BO Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Austin TX Posts: 531	Re: Oil Pressure went to 0 today If I remember right it just screws in/out.

05-14-2009, 03:07 PM	#3
79gmcc15 Gettin It One Pice At A Time Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: everett, washington Posts: 2,688	Re: Oil Pressure went to 0 today try to find a mechanical gauge just to make sure that your pump didn't go out. then, if all is good. then go with the sending unit, I think there about ten bucks or about. if it still is reading bad, trace the wires to your gauge and make sure they aren't cut or shorting out. then if all is still good then my guess would be the gauge its self. __________________ RIP ELJAY Work In Progress 1979 GMC C1500 Trailering Special. Getting the truck done, one piece at a time. “You can tell a lot about a fellow’s character by his way of eating jellybeans.”Ronald Reagan “I don’t know the key to success but I know the key to failure is trying to please everybody.” Bill Cosby

05-14-2009, 05:43 PM	#5
Prong Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: CO Posts: 474	Re: Oil Pressure went to 0 today Pull the lead off the sender and turn the ignition on. It should peg way past 60. Reconnect the lead and turn the ignition on. It should read 0 or very close to it. If it passes these 2 tests, the gauge is most likely ok.

05-14-2009, 06:27 PM	#6
88 Dippy Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: mt. Pleasant, MI Posts: 246	Re: Oil Pressure went to 0 today how is the oil level? my truck doese this when it is 1qt low (i have a hole in my pan and it burns oil i go though a lot) __________________ 1974 chevy Cheyenne C10 "The Mutt":4x4 convertion, NP208, 700-R4, stock 350, edelbrock Torker intake, edelbrock 600 CFM carb, duels 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GT: 3.8L supercharged, 9.2:1 comprestion, ZZP XP cam, home made intake, 2 1/2" exhuast, 10psi of boost

05-14-2009, 09:13 PM	#7
Tony_SS Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Washington, MO Posts: 643	Re: Oil Pressure went to 0 today Thanks for the help so far. I will check the gauge. But I think its reading right. So I let the truck cool and started it back up to drive it home. Oil pressure was 30psi for about 3 miles then gradually went down to 0. Could this still be a bad sender or something else? Still no sounds or burning oil smell. Oil level has been checked and is ok. I need transportation but don't want to blow the engine if this is serious.

05-14-2009, 10:34 PM	#8
old Rusty C10 Robert Olson Transport Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: recent transplant to NC USA Posts: 20,277	Re: Oil Pressure went to 0 today still could be the sender __________________ Bob 1951 International running on a squarebody chassis "If a man's worth is judged by the people he associates himself with, then i am the richest man in the world knowing some of the fine people of this board" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...t.php?f=25&a=9 (you can review the site rules here!) PM Me for your vehicle/parts hauling needs in the North East US or see my Facebook page Robert Olson Transport Live each day to the fullest.. you never know when fate is going to pull the rug out from under you... I hate cancer!!

05-14-2009, 11:11 PM	#9
heavychevy79 Cheyenne Super Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Dallas Texas Posts: 545	Re: Oil Pressure went to 0 today I replaced an old leaking one, and the new one showed 5-10 psi less than the old one.

05-15-2009, 06:19 AM	#10
billnorman Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: glen burnie md Posts: 174	Re: Oil Pressure went to 0 today Sounds like a stuck pressure relief valve... perhaps a piece of debris in it. One Q&D way to fix this without pulling the pan is start it up cold, let it run about 30 secs, and IF you have oil pressure of 30 or so, rev the dinkus out of it, like zoom, zoom, zoom. The high pressure oil when cold rushing out of the relief valve will open it all the way, and wash the particle out. Alternate way 2 is add a can of Seafoam, and do the above. Seafoam is really good at cleaning things. I think you're supposed to take it out (change your oil) soon thereafter. The above is my opinion, don't sue me if it explodes.

05-15-2009, 10:19 AM	#11
kelsfine69 18 Till I Die Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 1,522	Re: Oil Pressure went to 0 today Sounds like a sender, They were bad for that. I would go pick one up and put it in, its fairly easy. __________________ 2011 GMC Acadia 1969 GMC BBC LS7 2007 GMC Crew Duramax 1987 Camaro Iroc 350 Tuned Port Injection 42000Km 1987 Chevrolet Silverado 350 TBI 1987 Chevrolet Silverado 350 TBI(yes 2) Take me drunk, I'm too home...

05-15-2009, 01:52 PM	#12
Tony_SS Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Washington, MO Posts: 643	Re: Oil Pressure went to 0 today Well all my tools are packed up since we are moving soon so I dropped it off. The shop told me is was a bad switch and they are also able to fix those rattling brake calipers thank god! So I let them do the job.. I"m just happy its nothing major, just $180 parts and labor.



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