777mech

So I've been reading alittle about how unreliable the oil pressure gauges can be in the 996 cars. Mine was bouncing between 0 and 5 bars while cruising on the freeway and waving between 1 and 4 at idle. It eventually setteled on zero for a week. Just changed my oil and degreased my engine a few nights ago and ever since then, its stayed at 5 while cruising without dropping to zero. It also now reads normal on at idle. Do you guys think the oil change could have cleaned something on the sensor? Or maybe the hose water fixed it lol. Other then the gauge being all over the place I have had no other indicators of low or no oil pressure, and when I did the oil change I didn't notice any presence of metal in the filter.

993GT

the wires on the oil pressure sensor are contaminated or loose

manimal

What should the oil pressure read at idle? My gauge bounces around at idle but otherwise appears stable.

Carlo_Carrera

Clean the electrical plug on the oil pressure sender. The contacts corrode quite easily.

Third-Reef

My oil pressire is typically 2x the rpm. 1k rpm = 2 bar. 2k = 4 bar. Clean those connections.

777mech

I'll try that, they look next to impossible to reach. Mine are aren't spade connectors, they are loop connectors which are screwed on.

Kevinmacd

Mine would go to 0 whlie cruising, get an oil pressure warning message, no oil light. Changed my oil, and found a little piece of paper towel in the sump area below the filter! It must have happened when I used a paper towel to wick up the remaining oil in the oil filter area previous oil change. The paper was restricting the oil pressure sensor! Lessen learned use a good rag. Anyway, i get good constant oil pressure readings no bounce other than the normal variocam bounce when at 2k and accelerate. Have a little above 2bars at idle when fully warmed up above 4 bars to 5 bars at higher rpm.

777mech

So If my pressure was actually low I would get a warning message? I even scanned it with durametric and only got a faulty interior sensor code.

"02996ttx50

yes, there's an 'oil low" warning but don't let that happen. i'm pretty sure it's "red" lol but haven't seen it except when the ignition is "on", but motor off.

agree w kevinmacd re the "normal" readings being about 2 at idle and near 4/5 when at higher revs. it's not a gauge i tend to watch much ( if at all ) but the "faulty sender bounce" ( as i have hereby dubbed it ) is impossible to mistake ( i would think? ) for "normal" activity or behavior.

777mech

I know about the low level warning but is there actually a light or message that comes on when the pressure is low?

Carlo_Carrera

There are spade connectors attached to the loop connectors. To get to it you have to lower the engine a bit.

"02996ttx50

sorry, yeah.. i meant there will be a RED warning. hope and ensure you never see it. that's the most serious "warning" you will get. so the oil pressure gauge will be in the "red" and there should be (?) a dash gauge cluster warning as well.

again, only time i've ever seen the red was the bottom part of the oil gauge pre-startup when it shows that bit of "red".

if i am not mistaken? if you are under a qt low? it will trigger it and you * may* get a more attention grabbing warning ( psm/abs ) from the gauge cluster?

or perhaps it will be just the bottom "red" section of the oil pressure gauge will be lit.

I've never been low or had any catastrophic oil pressure loss, so i cant say with 100% certainty! sorry....

just don't see "red"!

edit: I'm sorry, i may have misspoken. i don't believe there is any psm/abs cel for oil level warning and i don't have any owner's manual nearby to confirm...though that is the generic "warning" for most all issues. at the very least it'll be the oil pressure gauge being solidly in the red.

again, just hope you never see it.

777mech

I have heard engines with low oil psi, they make lots of horrible sounds.. mostly from collapsed lifters.

"02996ttx50

i've never heard any 996 tt with horrible noise(s).

if your oil pressure stays btw 2 and 5 on the gauge, i don't think you'll ever hear them either. these are really sturdy motors. all they need is just regular maintenance and the occasional thrashing

Berra

Does the pressure stay the same with other types of oil like 5-40 & 5-50?