Oil Sending Unit

[Alexcab7]

Ok I am having a problem with my oil pressure. When it starts out, according to the gauge, its at like 90 PSI, way over, then it gets down to 60, and then everytime I brake it goes down to 30 and then back to 60 when I accelerate. Then the other day when I got out of my car my girlfriend told me it smelled really bad and my car was dripping something and sure enough it was oil. A friend of mine had this same problem on his Explorer and it was his Oil Sending Unit, does this sound right or is it something else. Any help is appreciated. Thanks guys.

Alex

[mcjoslyn]

Higher oil pressures when starting are normal. The oil is a lot thicker when cold (even with a multi-viscosity oil) and will cause elevated pressures until it warms up. Even when warm, you will see higher pressures at higher RPMs. Similarly, once the oil is warm, when you slow down pressures may drop and then stabilize. As long as the pressure doesn't stay abnormally high or low, you are probably fine (from a pressure standpoint). Obviously, if you are dripping oil, you have a leak somewhere. That won't effect pressure unless it is severe enough that you lose all your oil, or unless it is in the pressured portion of the system (which the sending unit is). However, a pressure leak won't cause elevated pressures, it will cause lower pressures. What you need to do is trace the drip back and see exactly where it is coming from. It could be a sending unit, but that is a lot less likely than a leaking gasket or seal.

[need4speed]

yes, it's the sending unit, same thing happened to me. Gauge would read off the charts when I first start it and unless it was past 1000 rpm. Replaced the unit and it works fine now.