Oil gauge pegged at max!!!

[94camaro25]

Here's something that has been bothering for sometime now ,and wondering if anyone knows whats going on. I purchased my 94 from a local who kept the maintenance up on the car to the "T". The only thing I saw wrong with the car was the oil gauge would peg itself to the max. pressure when I started the car. I got the car about a year ago, and like clock work, every start the oil needle goes to max and after awhile of drive the needle will reduce down to 75. I've had no engine trouble (or noise)and the gas consumption is great. The only thing I've just noticed is the rear main seal is starting to leak (140,000 miles). Since the weather has been quite warmer now I noticed the oil needled goes to the half way mark at long stops (like at red lights). Whats the problem? :rolleyes:

[Dan Vincent]

Sounds like the oil pressure sending unit? Either that or the gauge is screwed... mechanic should be able to test the sending unit for you - if that checks out, time to get a new gauge cluster.

[malice10985]

What weight oil are you running?
that sounds like something that would happen if you used 20W50 or something. The oil is really thick when it's cold and then it thins out when it heats up.

[Distephano]

The oil pressure guage is going to go down when you are just at idle. The engine is turning slower, so the oil pump is turning slower, resulting in less oil pressure.

[y87inside]

Sounds like an electrical problem. Maybe a intermittet short to ground or as stated earlier, just a bad sending unit.

[pgriffith]

I dont think it should be a problem. Even if the gauge is not working properly atleast you know you have oil pressure. What weight oil are you running? Remember running thicker weight raises oil pressure. you should be using a 10w30 or 5w30. Check to see if you have oil pressure. Tap the oil filter with a wrench just enough to put a small dent on the bottom of the filter. Have somebody start the car while your finger is feeling the dent you just put in the filter. The dent should pop out easily. If it does then you have pressure and nothing to worry about.

[94camaro25]

I'm running 5w30 castrol syn. I'm starting to believe its the sending unit. Did the dent test, diffinetly got the pressure!! If it's not the sending unit and the cluster guage is bad, how hard is it to swap out a V6 cluster guage with the V8----> meaning the recalibrating part (tach).
I like the looks of the 150mph rather than the 110mph. Well, looks like I'm off to get a new sending unit.....