Oil Pressure? 87 MR 2 - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

GeoffBooth · 03-03-2010, 08:46 PM

I changed out a oil cooler line due to a leak, replaced the filter and reconnected the oil pressure switch that got disconnected a couple of months ago. Ran the car 3 days 150 mile. Oil pressure seemed normal, hanging in-between the 2 upper mark running about 50 mph. At idle it was dropping to the center mark or just above. It’s done over 200k. Today doing 50 mph I noticed it had dropped to the center line. I pulled off the road thinking the oil line was leaking. The oil level was fine. Started up again and it was normal. Kept my eye on it on the freeway and the gauge went from normal down to the middle then after 30 seconds went back up to normal. Anyone see anything like this before? Would think if it was just a bad connection it would go to the bottom?

GeoffBooth · 03-06-2010, 04:58 AM

Anyone ever experienced a oil pump going bad, are there any signs until it's too late?

ToyotaTechGeek · 03-06-2010, 06:28 AM

well. these gauges are just a little bit better than dummy gauges. fluctuations occur all of the time. if you want accuracy for your oil pressure, go aftermarket! on a side note: sounds/seems like normal operation from what you describe. manually check your oil via dipstick.

GeoffBooth · 03-09-2010, 04:37 AM

The stock gauge may not be up to much but still it does measure oil pressure. Taking a noise dive while the RPM are at a constant just don’t seem right. There’s no change in sound or feel in the car that you would get if you lost pressure totally. I’ve been driving these cars since 87 and never see this before.

***MR2Jedi*** · 03-09-2010, 12:34 PM

In that case,if you're not experiencing any mechanical problems/leaks, maybe get a new gauge and sending unit. After all, it is 23 yrs old.

GeoffBooth · 03-10-2010, 04:39 AM

My first thoughts when it dropped was that oil line leaking maybe came off but it was fine. It is top one close to the sender. This car as always had a leak in that area and still does slightly. Never been able to track it down.I haven’t checked the book but I was thinking maybe replace the oil pump to be safe. Is this a mammoth task?