oil pressure concerns

[v6Mongo]

Just bought a 91 Firebird and it runs sweet. I noticed that the oil pressure stays pegged at 80 tho'. This doesn't seem right. Anyone have experience with this. Is it a guage problem, engine problem, or no problem?
thanks,
Bruce

[sharkey]

well, the oil pressure wouldnt actualy be at 80psi, the factory pressure releif in the oil pump is at 70psi. id try changing the sending unit, they are common for failures in older cars. if that doesnt do it, check out the wiring (run a resistance test from behind the cluster to the sender) to make sure you have no breaks in it. if all that ckecks out, its gonna be the cluster.

[bszopi]

The problem most likely is the wrong sending unit. There is a sending unit for the idiot light (short and stubby) and one for the gauge (longer). If the idiot light sender is installed, it is basically just sending and on/off signal to the gauge, in which case the gauge will show pegged high or zero.

[86euro]

Does the pressure reading build up as you crank the engine, or does it just peg as soon as the key is turned on?

[v6Mongo]

Thanks guys. I'll be checking that stuff soon.

[85_Olds_Ciera]

....id try changing the [oil] sending unit, they are common for failures in older cars. if that doesnt do it....

Uh...lower pressure readings?

[v6Mongo]

Unit seems grounded or something - needle just goes whoop! to full right when the key is turned on.

[X11_STE]

Bad sending unit. Cheap easy fix.