Chevy S-10 Oil Pressure - HALP!

"MonkeePuzzle" (monkeypuzzle) 01/29/2016 at 15:15 • Filed to: None

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I have a Chevy S-10 that indicates good pressure on startup, then drops whilst driving, then down to zero when stationary. But, there are no indications from the engine of distress. There is a “check gauges” light when it hits 0. Revving whilst stationary will bump the pressure up.

^ pressure whilst driving

^ whilst driving

^ at the lights, eeek

^ upon light revving pressure moves in accordance

^ I saw an NSX... not relevant to oil issue

also, it is a manual, which makes its lazy driving style enjoyable.

So, thoughts on oil pressure? bad guage? bad oil pump?

uofime-2 > MonkeePuzzle 01/29/2016 at 15:20

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What year, do you have a scan tool you can plug in and double check the pressure?

Buckner > MonkeePuzzle 01/29/2016 at 15:20

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Rent or buy a analog gauge to double check. Go from there. Mine turned out to be bad sending unit. It never hurts to get another reading.

Takuro Spirit > MonkeePuzzle 01/29/2016 at 15:20

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2.2 or 4.3?

Try thicker oil first.

Then a new sensor.

Then burn it to the ground as its probably not worth replacing the gauge (cluster) or oil pump)

TheOnelectronic > MonkeePuzzle 01/29/2016 at 15:21

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“Check Gages” amuses me.

Urambo Tauro > TheOnelectronic 01/29/2016 at 15:24

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Redundant warning lamp is redundant.

jariten1781 > MonkeePuzzle 01/29/2016 at 15:26

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If there’s no associate noise/roughness my bet would be on the sender.

Also, didn't the S-10 have cam bearings that failed causing oiling issues of some sort or another? I remember something about that in the memory fog.

MonkeePuzzle > Takuro Spirit 01/29/2016 at 15:27

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4.3, thicker oil sounds a good idea, no idea whats in it

MonkeePuzzle > TheOnelectronic 01/29/2016 at 15:28

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look! over there! no seriously, LOOK!

ok, thanks warning light

Invinciblejets > MonkeePuzzle 01/29/2016 at 15:28

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Most likely the sender. I never trust stock gauges. Especially temp.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > MonkeePuzzle 01/29/2016 at 15:29

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4.3? Logansteno can confirm that the 4.3 don’t need no flamin’ oil pressure.

But probably a busted gauge.

MonkeePuzzle > uofime-2 01/29/2016 at 15:29

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erm, 2000... 2001....mumble mumble

no scan tool, but I could borrow such

MonkeePuzzle > Buckner 01/29/2016 at 15:29

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secondary guage, that should help, thanks.

Steve in Manhattan > Takuro Spirit 01/29/2016 at 15:31

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I was going to say weak oil pump ... also, are there any other filters other than the main one on the engine?

Brickman > MonkeePuzzle 01/29/2016 at 15:55

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Mines the opposite lol. I don’t think it actually works. Also don’t trust the gas gauge when you are below a 1/4 tank. You could have 30 miles or 30 feet :)

Britt > MonkeePuzzle 01/29/2016 at 16:05

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pull your dipstick and look at the oil, does it look foamy and dirty white? If so, there is (probably) a blown head gasket and some water/coolant getting into your oil... oil and water separate when the engine is sitting, off, when you start it the oil and water mix (windage from crank, motion of vehicle, etc) making it now a problem.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 01/29/2016 at 16:16

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No oil, no coolant, no maintenance whatsoever... Indestructible engine is indestructible.

MonkeePuzzle > Britt 01/29/2016 at 16:47

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I'll give it a look, thanks for the idea

aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe > MonkeePuzzle 01/29/2016 at 16:53

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I bet its the sending unit, GM’s vehicles from that time period do exactly this when the sending units go bad.

mazda616 > MonkeePuzzle 01/29/2016 at 16:59

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My S10s oil pressure gauge literally just flies back and forth and sometimes pegs at 80. Sending unit is bad.

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > MonkeePuzzle 01/29/2016 at 17:10

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Mine moves around a lot on my ‘03 Sonoma but I know its ok. I have an OBII scanner that I got off amazon for $7 and the torque app for $5 and they give me all the diagnostics I need.

Thicker oil could work but its likely the sending unit to the gauge. Do an oil change and see what it looks like and if it keeps happening.

Takuro Spirit > MonkeePuzzle 01/29/2016 at 17:47

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PISS

Takuro Spirit > TheOnelectronic 01/29/2016 at 17:48

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My ‘95 Neon had a “check gauges” chime. Had no idea it was overheating in traffic (fans forgot to turn on driving back from TN, happened once and never again) until it binged and I looked down to see the temp needle pegged.

dietryng > MonkeePuzzle 01/29/2016 at 17:54

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what buckner said. get a mechanical gauge, and see what it says the oil pressure is actually doing compared to what the dash gauge says.

MOST engines. only need 7 psi per thousand rpm to maintain the hydrostatic wedge that keeps the crank off the bearings. everything more than that is gravy.

check the sender, then your grounds.

TheOnelectronic > Takuro Spirit 01/29/2016 at 18:43

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Yeah, but it wasn’t spelled “Gages”

(Unless this is some pseudo-valid spelling I’ve never heard about, like “thru”)

Takuro Spirit > TheOnelectronic 01/29/2016 at 18:58

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Or spelled phonetically, “Gay jizz”.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > MonkeePuzzle 01/29/2016 at 22:42

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When did you get an s-10?

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > MonkeePuzzle 01/29/2016 at 22:42

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Oh Oh Oh Oreilyyyyyyyyy

MonkeePuzzle > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s 01/29/2016 at 22:56

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its a friend’s, he got a minivan because of kids, and I needed another car while my dadnis visiting from Australia. So I agreed to sell his truck in exchange for borrowing it for a few weeks

MonkeePuzzle > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s 01/29/2016 at 22:57

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truck buddies!

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > MonkeePuzzle 01/29/2016 at 23:01

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Can I drive it? also what engine?

MonkeePuzzle > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s 01/29/2016 at 23:06

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probably yes, depending on how long I have it after dad leaves (mid-feb)

its the v6

Britt > MonkeePuzzle 01/29/2016 at 23:17

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How'd the oil look? Did you look at at after running the engine?

MonkeePuzzle > Britt 01/29/2016 at 23:22

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oil looked good, fairly fresh aswell.

Dogsatemypants > MonkeePuzzle 01/30/2016 at 00:58

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Could be yhe oil oressure sending unit sensor. I burned out a couple on my 2nd gen 4.3l

911e46z06 > MonkeePuzzle 01/30/2016 at 03:06

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This exact thing happened to me in my Tahoe. I had a little oil leak, and I was down a couple quarts. Threw some oil in it, fixed the leak, and she was good to go. So yeah. Check the dipstick.

Britt > MonkeePuzzle 01/30/2016 at 07:52

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Well, sorry I couldn't help... Good luck!

V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! > MonkeePuzzle 01/30/2016 at 14:15

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Hook up a manual pressure gauge/tester and confirm pressure or lack thereof. If you’re pressure is actually good, it’s most likely time for a new sending unit.

What weight oil are you running?

timgray > MonkeePuzzle 02/02/2016 at 13:35

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If it’s not the sending unit because you checked with a $9.00 mechanical pressure gauge and it is really losing pressure.... Time for a bottom end refresh, Your main bearings are all worn out. while you are in there, replace the oil pump with a high volume one and enjoy as pegged oil pressure gauge in the mornings.

You could put in new main bearings but you would want to replace the connecting rod bearing too while you are in there.

Otherwise run 10W 40 or thicker and start looking for a new truck in the next couple of years. I suggest also adding a ZINC additive to slow down the wear. Modern oils are crap for older engines in preventing wear. rotella T Diesel has a lot of zinc and will probably work well for you.