Low Oil Pressure 3300 engine

[GarciaNY]

lately i have low oil pressure....most recent thing done was me changing the oil although the pressure had been low before that...its even lower now

the engine is a 3300 V6 if that helps at all

the pressure has been staying at about 20 and it doesnt increase when it warms nor when the rpms go up

along with that the car has a higher idling rpm than it should and it sputters on the takeoff and most deffinately has a loss of power

[rixGAphx]

Your engine is old, and the bearings are worn.

It is perfectly normal for the pressure to be lower, since oil 'escapes' more quickly from each worn bearing than from fresh bearings.
20 psi is a fine pressure for your engine, though 40 would be better.

Try using a heavier oil, 10W30 or even straight 30-wt for the summer.
A veerrry old and tired engine will need 15w40, or even 40-wt if it's in a warm zone like southern US.

Oil pressure always goes DOWN as the oil warms, never goes up.

The gage *should* show a diference in pressure at different rpms, like between idle/2000/3000.

If your gage isn't showing a difference, then there's something wrong with the sender or the gage.

Hope this helps,
-Rick

[GarciaNY]

i use 10w30 because thats what is required (i believe)

and the gage shows no difference at diff. rpms :(

[SE2000]

Try another sending unit or plug in a test guage so you know where you stand.

[pontiac3100]

10w-30?
oh wait you have a 3300.
imo the gauge should move as it warms up, which you accelerate.
mines reads @40 and a little below that when the engine is warm.
how many miles on the car?

[GarciaNY]

126k miles
oil temp does not change at all,stays constant at 20ish

[pontiac3100]

whoa....i have a 168k and register higher than yours....i think you have a faulty sensor or gauge.
does it go to 0psi when you turn the car on?

[GarciaNY]

oil pressure is normal now....but i have notice that im losing about....2 miles per every gallon....im curious as to whether its my sparks or not....i have yet to change three of the six spark plugs

[goredsox]

Originally posted by GarciaNY
oil pressure is normal now....but i have notice that im losing about....2 miles per every gallon....im curious as to whether its my sparks or not....i have yet to change three of the six spark plugs

our plugs are the easiest to change, compared to the 3100 thiers is a nightmare!!!

as for the oil pressure, mine is always maxed out at cruising speeds. At cold idle she has around 100psi, at warm idle around 80. It is either the 2nd or third sending unit...

[rixGAphx]

Originally posted by goredsox
our plugs are the easiest to change, compared to the 3100 thiers is a nightmare!!!

as for the oil pressure, mine is always maxed out at cruising speeds.
At cold idle she has around 100psi, at warm idle around 80.
It is either the 2nd or third sending unit... It is virtually impossible for a NEW engine to have 100 or even 80 psi of oil pressure.

If I were you, I would check more deeply into the pressure-sensing system, like the dash dial itself.

My concern is that your values (80-100) are SO impossible that your gage system is extremely wrong.
Your pressures might actually be 20-30 like garciany's.
* * *
garciany:
Absolutely, change the other 3 plugs ASAP!!
Engines run very badly, and actually can damage themselves, if one bank of plugs is firing strongly (and producing lots of power) and the opposite bank is firing poorly (and producing low power).
The imbalance is not only 'rough' to feel as a passenger/driver, but it is also rough on the engine's internal balance.

This prolly won't affect the oil pressure, however.

Good luck,
-Rick

[pontiac3100]

i think you can adjust the oil sensor...there was this knob type thing on my old sensor...my new one looks like it has it but it has a "cover" over it.

and all you have to do to change the rear plugs on a 3100 was remove the coil or either go in to right/left side wheel well.

glad you fixed your oil issue