[BeBe]

I've noticed recently that my oil pressure gauge stays up near the top of the range (near 5) most of the time I'm driving. It does not stay pegged up there; it goes down to 4-ish when I'm stopped at a light. I think I remember it used to drop down further under no load conditions. I recently put in an RS Barn chip. No idea what that would change related to oil pressure. The car is running great with the new chip.



Is this anything to be concerned about?

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[tamathumper]

Unless I drive hard or in high heat, mine will stay near 4 too, or just below. Just driving 15 minutes to work, for instance, isn't enough to drop it to 3. In high heat and spirited driving I've seen it as low as 2.5, though.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[SILVY968]

When the oil is cold, the reading will read 4+ in my car. When warm, at lower revs it should drop to 2ish.

Scared me too, but it probably is normal. I believe that low would mean excessive bearing clearance, that IS a problem.

Brian

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[BeBe]

I had recently been only taking short trips. This afternoon after I posted, I took a longer drive and it did drop to between 2 and 3, so I guess it's nothing. Thanks.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[gbarrier]

When it doesn't do that you should replace the rod bearings.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[vliegwielolaf1234]

www.968UK.com

They have a nice list off tech questions .



Q: what should the oilpressure gauge read on a 968

A: The average is between 2-2.5 Bar at warm idle and around 4 - 5 during normal cruising .

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Cloud9...68]

On a hot day at idle, mine was never at 2 - always slightly below - around 1.7 - 1.8, so I'm anxious to see what it is after the rebuild.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[DaveN]

Mine went from the 3's after being warm to 2 after the rebuild (at idle) so go figure.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[986boxster1998]

Mine reads between 2-3 at idle when the engine is warm and between 4-5 under load; I remember checking into this a few years ago as I had no idea what the normal range was and the answer I located assured me that this was normal oil pressure for an engine in good condition.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[ds968]

Before and after the rebuild ( top rebuild only ) mine has been the same : close to 5 when cold, or anytime when the gas pedal is pressed, and between 2 and 3 ( probably closer to the 2 ) when the engine is well warmed up , and at idle.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[tamathumper]

I noticed that a small change in temperature makes for a sizable change in oil pressure. I warmed the car up the other day and took pictures of the guages, all while at idle.



With the engine still warming up, and the temperature gauge at the 8 o'clock mark, the oil pressure was still near 5.







A few minutes later, with the temperature gauge at the 9 o'clock mark, the oil pressure was about 2.5.







This probably has something to do with the oil temperature itself, I would imagine it takes a short while for the oil, including all of that in the sump, to heat up?

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Cloud9...68]

Probably so - I sure wish mine had read 2+ when warm - it was always a little below 2. Crossing my fingers that after the rebuild, it will read like you guys'.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[ds968]

In my previous post I indicated when warm and idle , it's between 2 and 3 , closer to 2. Paid more attention to it today and it just clears the top line of the 2 bar..so a heck of a lot closer to 2 , lol. The other reading ( cold and when on the gas pedal ) is same I mentioned earlier, b/w. 4 and 5 but very close to the bottom line of the 5 bar.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[MB968]

A lot of factors influence what your car's oil pressure will read at idle when "hot" other than the condition of the engine. Here's a viscosity chart from Valvoline.



SAE Grade 5w20 5w30 10w30 10w40 20w50 SAE30 SAE40 SAE50

Viscosity @ 104F 45.9 61.98 69.74 95.41 165.9 85.9 132.2 222.1

Viscosity @ 212F 8.36 10.46 10.67 14.0 18.5 10.92 14.7 20.36



As you can see, at 212F, a 10w30 grade oil has a fraction of the viscosity as a 20w50 10.67 centistokes, vs 18.5. And, there is also the variability of the sender and gauge which could add another +/- variation to your reading. The key is weather or not the oil pump can give an adequate oil pressure and flow under load condtions where it is critical. Engines that are set up too tight can be just as much of an issue to proper lube as engines that have gaps that are too loose. If I recall, it was Lindsey Racing that posted here, stating that they set up our engines with a .002" rod bearing gap, but then recommend using a 15w50 oil.



So, my answer to is too high a problem, it depends. Don't think this is a yes/no question

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.