Oil pressure problems

1998 ISUZU HOMBRE
200,000 MILES • 4 CYL • 2WD • MANUAL
Avatar
JOLETA REED
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Oil pressure is real high when first started and after it warms up it drops real low at idle and fluctuates with throttle speed. It runs good and does not knock and does not use any oil
Jun 3, 2017 at 9:04 AM
Advertisement
Avatar
STEVE W.
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 15,113 POSTS
Define "real low"
Normal oil pressure will be high when you first start the engine because the oil is thicker while cold. As the oil warms up it will flow easier and thin out. Thus you get a much lower pressure when the engine is warm. The faster the engine turns the higher the oil pressure will be, because the oil pump turns faster at higher rpm. This is why the oil pressure varies with throttle input.

Basically what you describe is normal behavior, as long as the pressure at idle is around 15-20 psi you are okay. Normally you want to see about 7-10 psi for every 1000 rpm.

Jun 3, 2017 at 12:06 PM