Oil Pressure Sender location 3.1V6?

[elsmootho]

94' Grand AM with Guage cluster, can anyone tell me where the oil pressure sending unit is on the engine? I thought i had it but not sure anymore, i attached a mechanical guage to the port and i got no reading. The sensor also has no hole in it, so i don't think its an oil pressure sensor, see pics...

[asylummotorsports]

If you are switching from an idiot light to a gauge you will need to buy the appropriate sender although it is electric too.

It's right by the oil filter.

Any parts store should have one, or the dealer.

For an aftermarket mechanical gauge you will have to install a tee in the block to attach the factory gauge as well or you will likely get a service engine light.

I hope that is what you were looking for.

[WrathOfSocrus]

The sensor you have pictured is the knock sensor. Rock Auto is very handy for having pictures of parts as well as parts cross reference. The sending unit for the oil pressure should look more like the attached picture. As for the mounting boss, I don't have a good picture but I can try and look for one. I hope this helps.

[elsmootho]

Thank you WrathofSocrus!
would really appreciate if you can tell me where that sensor is on the engine (94 3.1L V6 Grand AM SE)

[pocket-rocket]

I have seen them in 2 places on the GM v6's. Above the oil filter and above the starter.

[bszopi]

It should be just to the side (can't remember if its right or left) of the knock sensor. Your 3rd image is a coolant temp sensor. And the image wrath posted from Rock Auto is the version for just the idiot light. The gauge sensor is ~1" longer than that.

[Superdave]

it's right above the starter

[elsmootho]

Thanks Superdave, i got it!!
I changed my oil, i did not change or touch or move the filter.
I start the car up, ZERO oil pressure.
I had to change the filter and the pressure came back.
What could possibly cause a filter to block all of the sudden, just because i changed oil in the crankcase? How could that be? Again, i did not touch or move the old filter, all of the sudden, it's clogged? is that possible?

[bszopi]

How long did you let it run before you shut it off? It will take several seconds (5-7) for the engine to build up pressure. Of course, if you then went and changed the filter, it still would have some lag to build pressure... Cut open the old filter and take a look inside.

[asylummotorsports]

Did you fill the new filter with oil before installing it?? VERY IMPORTANT!!

That can take a few seconds to start the system registering pressure.

But the filter has a by-pass to allow oil flow if it becomes clogged, so that would not cause zero Oil Pressure.

But it sounds like you have figured it out.

[elsmootho]

Hey guys, i'm telling you i ran the engine for 15 seconds at a time with the old filter and pressure would never build. I did this at least 6 or seven times, even reved it up to 2500 rpm and hold it for a few seconds to try to get the pump going, it never worked. I had plenty of pressure before i changed the oil. I didn't touch or move the old oil filter. Then i decided to change the filter and screw a new one on empty just to see if it would fill up with oil, and it did, after 2 seconds i could hear the clacking valvetrain noise dissappear and pressure was restored. How could this have happened? I noticed there was still old oil (black oil) in the old filter when i removed it. I am perplexed but happpy.

[pocket-rocket]

If you follow your oil change schedule regularly (which you don't sound like an idiot, so I'm assuming you do) then I would want to cut the old filter open and flush it with kerosene to see what is in it.

[robertisaar]

(I should just put that line in my sig... I ask it enough..)

yeah, just put a big: FRAM SUCKS in your sig... that'll do the trick

[pocket-rocket]

I don't think it would get the point across. Most people are too stubborn to believe it until they see for themselves on their oil pressure gauge. I did find another parts store salesmen that agreed with me (at Autozone none the less O.O! And the only reason I was there was because I couldn't pass up their oil change special... 5 qts Mobil Clean 5000 and STP filters for $12)

[jmgtp]

Pocket... I hit up that same special - only I went with the symthetic deal. $20 for the big just of Mobil 1 which is a great price, cheaper than even Walmart. And it came with, you guessed it, Fram ToughGuard filter which I will probably not use, ever.

The coupon deal was 'limit 2' so I got 2 of the big Mobil 1 jugs (something like 5.3 qts each) for $40. A steal in my books. Usually that would run me Over $50.

Looks like the OP got things figured out. Scary to think that an oil filter could do that.