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Author Topic: FUNKY OIL GAUGE  (Read 5858 times)

Offline kfoz

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FUNKY OIL GAUGE
« on: September 14, 2009, 04:16:53 pm »
On my '78 350 Silverado, after installing a NEW oil pump(stock volume), my oil gauge is acting funny. It fluctuates(is that spelled right?) When parked, warm and idling it's at 15psi. When warm & driving it's around 45-50psi. When I come up to a stop sign,etc. it plummits to less than 10psi!  What's going on here??? There is no knocking and the engine is running fine. The oil pump is NEW and the gauge has been checked,etc! Maybe a sending unit is in order?????

Please advise and thank you all!

kfoz
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kfoz (kfoz@comcast.net)
'73 C20 4 Speed 2WD

Offline Captkaos

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Re: FUNKY OIL GAUGE
« Reply #1 on: September 14, 2009, 04:20:19 pm »
What you posted is normal.  The only question mark is the drop at stopping, is the oil level correct?  By below 10 are you saying below normal?  you only need 5-7 at idle when hot.
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Offline kfoz

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Re: FUNKY OIL GAUGE
« Reply #2 on: September 14, 2009, 04:50:28 pm »
THe oil level is correct. It just has never fluctuated like this before. All I did was replace my oil pump with a NEW Melling compltely stock pump for a completely stock  '78 350.
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kfoz (kfoz@comcast.net)
'73 C20 4 Speed 2WD

Offline kfoz

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FLUCTUATING OIL GAUGE ! ! ! !
« Reply #3 on: September 14, 2009, 07:33:26 pm »
ok, now even warm and cruising it reads maybe 20psi!  Should I try replacing the oil sending unit??

kfoz
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kfoz (kfoz@comcast.net)
'73 C20 4 Speed 2WD

Offline Captkaos

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Re: FUNKY OIL GAUGE
« Reply #4 on: September 14, 2009, 07:48:21 pm »
Is it the factory electrical?  If so, you could try that.
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Offline kfoz

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Re: FUNKY OIL GAUGE
« Reply #5 on: September 14, 2009, 07:55:37 pm »
I believe it is Capt. My other truck('74 C-2500 454) has a factory mechanical oil gauge. I assume for a stock '78 half ton C-10 it is electrical. I will check!

Thanks again,
kfoz
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kfoz (kfoz@comcast.net)
'73 C20 4 Speed 2WD

Offline Captkaos

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Re: FUNKY OIL GAUGE
« Reply #6 on: September 14, 2009, 08:39:13 pm »
If it is the stock setup it is electrical.  Swap the sender.
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Offline kfoz

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Re: FUNKY OIL GAUGE
« Reply #7 on: September 15, 2009, 08:25:38 pm »
Is the sender located near the back of the block? There is one on the Driv. side but i assume that is a temp sender?
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kfoz (kfoz@comcast.net)
'73 C20 4 Speed 2WD

Offline choptop

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Re: FUNKY OIL GAUGE
« Reply #8 on: September 15, 2009, 09:07:19 pm »
On most of mine, the sending unit is behind the distributor. The one on the side is for the electric choke
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Offline eventhorizon66

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Re: FUNKY OIL GAUGE
« Reply #9 on: September 15, 2009, 10:15:55 pm »
Seems like about once a week we have this discussion about oil sender location. ::)
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'85 C10 SWB 350 700R4 TKO600

Offline GoatBeard

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Re: FUNKY OIL GAUGE
« Reply #10 on: September 20, 2009, 10:01:24 am »
When mine is first started it gets around 50 - 60 psi.  When it gets warm and I'm driving it (moving) I register around 30 psi.  When it is warm and stopped (idle) I get about 8 or 9 psi.

I have had this same reading on 3 different 305s.  So I feel that it's perfectly normal.
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