The oil pressure gauge on my truck does not work, so I installed some autometer gauges few months ago. Saturday while in gorman the oil pressure gauge stopped working. It showed no pressure at all, but its went back to normal after about 20 mins of driving. Yesterday the same thing. Worked for 10 mins, and then nothing. I checked all the wires and they are good. I'm pretty sure its the sender, but is it possible that an engine will have oil pressure, then no pressure at all, and then pressure again?

 

If the oil pump drive gear was damaged or stripped.

Or if you have debris or junk floating around in your oil pan/ engine. Then yea it is..

Are they electronic or manual gauges?
Im guessing electronic since you said there was a sender...
You might want to try a fully manual gauge to see what happens.

 

It is electric. the debris floating around makes sense. Would i be able to tell if the oil pump gear is damaged by the way the engine runs? I should probably do an oil change. The only thing that it seems the gauge does not get any signal. Its not like the pressure decreases and goes to 0. Its like it turns off and goes completely dead, but I read 12V so i know its not the power. It goes down to the same setting as when the gauge is not hooked up to anything.

 

I would take the gauge back and getanother one. Maybe its defective.. And then get a fully manual one so you can definately watch the pressure fluctuate. Then you can determine if its a pump or worn out bearing or whatnot.

i just dont trust electronic things that well.. just my own opinion.

 

You better cross your fingers that that gauge is not accurate when it shows no oil pressure.

If you had 20 minutes of driving with no oil pressure, your motor would be gnarled.

 

Im pretty sure it's either the gauge or the sender from the way it goes down completly, but you never know. I agree that mechanical gauges are probably more accurate and reliable, but im just not crazy about having oil and water hooked up to the gauge. It can get messy. Is there a low oil pressure warning light in 88 runners? If there is, is it hooked up seperatly form the oil pressure sender?

 

well it was the gauge, but it only happens after about 2-3mins when i turn the lights on.When the lamp inside the gauge gets hot, the gauge malfunctions. What a stupid problem, but i'm glad it's nothing serious

 

Glad to hear that. (that you figured out the problem, not that the gauge was messed up)

 

when my oil pressure gauge when aout a couple years ago i went this route $10

it was easier than dealing with the plastic line melting on the exaust