Faulty Oil Pressure Guage

[fishdude84]

I have a 94' L99 (4.3L) caprice, and I got it a week ago, and the oil PSI guage has always registered in the low end, and i took it to a mechanic and he said it was the sensor and, a he replaced it, and put a special oil PSI guage on the car, and said i had 55 on idle and 60 when the engine was reved, and that was a normal oil PSI. In addition to that, the "check engine" light will sometimes come on, then go out. Does anyone know what the case might be? Do i really have low oil PSI or do I have some bad guages or something? Also, the engine does not make any weird noises or anything like that, the temp gauge does not indicate any overheating, and the engine seems to run perfect.

Thanks,
Alex

[Incitatus]

55 - 60 psi of oil pressure sounds about right to me.
As far as the check engine light goes, a couple of days ago my light flickered for a little while then stayed on. I took it to Autozone and had the guy pull the code -random misfire. He cleared the code and it hasn't been back on since.

He said they sell those code readers for about $150. I may get one. The light on my girlfriend's (Chevy) truck has been coming on (I know what that is, though -O2 sensor).

[9C1LT195]

10 psi per every 1000 rpms (10 psi @ 1000 rpms, 30 psi @ 3000 rpms, etc) is considered a good oil pressure, so your pressure is fine. Try replacing the oil pressure sender.

[fishdude84]

so when the guy "cleared the code" on your car, does that mean that he reset the cars computer to not malfunction and give false codes? im still having a little trouble understanding these codes.
thanks

[gmtech949c1]

hey, in 1994, the system used was called OBD1, and the misfire codes weren't introduced until 1996 with OBD2. your check engine light engine light may have come on for several different reasons, but usually only when there is a REAL problem, unlike the sensitive OBD2 systems, trust me, anybody that has worked for a dealership hates the P0300 series codes. anyways, try jumpering your A and B terminals in your Data Link Connector located under the dash to the right of the column, that should give you flash diagnostics, in other words, count your service engine soon or check engine lamp flashes, with the key on. 12 should be the first code it flashes 3 times, then any codes that are set. this only works if the engine light is on all the time, and don't worry about the twelve, it is just a check code to let you know the system has entered the diagnostic mode. i have seen the code readers, and i own my own snap-on scanner, unless you get one that will tell you history codes along with giving you some kind of engine data readout, don't waste you money. i have seen a lot of parts replaced because the code was for that part, and then they bring it in to me at the dealership, and i find out that the cause of the code was something else.