Question on oil pressure

[webco275]

First off hi to everyone here. Obviously this is my first post to get started.
My question is: I have started to notice that my oil pressure gauge has been reading higher than I'm comfortable with. I can start it up and it goes to 90 psi. Drive it down the road and sometimes it jumps to halfway between 90 and 120 psi. This is a bone stock 3.8L, automatic, with no real modifications. The car runs pretty normal other than the unusual readings on the oil pressure gauge. Has anyone experienced this problem or is there a post that I've over looked already?
Thanks for your help.

[Mogobs30th]

Re: Question on oil pressure

You probably want to ask this question in Gen Tech, not the lounge. But to answer the best I can, I wouldn't think it was a bad thing really, I could be wrong. Its when the oil pressure hits 0 is when you need to worry.

[firechicken3800]

Re: Question on oil pressure

It's possibly just a missreading of some sort, because that is quite high oil pressure for a bone stock 3.8. Not saying it's a bad thing to be too worried about, other than blowing a cheap oil filter to shreds. You could always try replacing the oil pressure sending unit and see if that will give you a more correct reading. Otherwise, I really don't know what else to say.

[Kronic Budz]

Re: Question on oil pressure

how thick is your oil? Mabey u should try running a thinner oil.

[webco275]

Re: Question on oil pressure

I'm not too worried about it, because everything is still running fine. I had some friends that said might be a spun bearing, but with everything still running fine that sort of went out the window. But I'm still supicious at the moment. My biggest concerns is this is my ONLY means of transportation to and from work. My next move is to change out the sending unit and hope that fixes the issues; after all it is an electromechanical unit. The car has 156K on it already so time that something starts wearing out. I didn't know if someone else had experienced this or not. Thanks

[webco275]

Re: Question on oil pressure

Kronic, I'm running 10W-30 synthetic. Changed about 1200 miles ago.

[Rob Bell]

Re: Question on oil pressure

Just hook up a known, good mechanical oil pressure gauge and see what it reads. Then you'll know right away if it's a mechanical problem or a sensor/gauge problem.

[webco275]

Re: Question on oil pressure

Update:
Changed the pressure switch out with a new one and things are back to "normal". I am not getting the high readings like before and the needle is more steady too.