1995 impreza import. EJ20 engine

Yesterday I took the car for out (15 miles) and when I had to stop at some traffic lights the oil pressure gauge started flashing it red light and there was no pressure on 0.

When I rev it, it would go back up but on idle it was on 0 . Now I didn't drive it hard because there were to many cars around. I have never seen this red light on before and to be honest my heart stopped.

I know that oil thins out when warm, so the pressure drops some but not that far, I think its usually on 3 warm idle but I can't remember.

Anyway I went to work and before I drove it home I checked the oil level and it was just below the full mark, so I thought it would be ok to drive home slowly keeping an eye on it.

When I was doing about 50 the oil pressure was on 5 but wouldn't go any higher and on idle it was running on 1.5-2, which was slighly better than 0 of course.

So I was wondering what everyone thought my problem may be?

What is the normal oil pressure?

Is there a test I can have done to check it?

I need my car daily so need it sorted asap.

Thank Claire

 

hi claire you say the oil pressure went down on the guage but did the oil light come up on the dash ??

 

Do you know what make of gauges you have?
Running at '5' which I assume is 5 bar is about 74 psi which is a little on the low side (depending on the grade of oil used) The idle pressure of 1.5-2 is 22-30psi is not too bad.
Certainly worth letting a Subaru tech. have a listen to the engine.

JohnD

 

When was the oil last changed?

If it's been a while that will cause it to read low. Best you get it sorted asap.

 

No the oil light didn't come on, on the dash!

 

I changed the oil in January but haven't really used it much until the past month or so.

 

I have prosport stepper warn gauges.

 

could be a faulty gauge/sender

 

Oh dear!
With respect to those with these gauges which are working fine, I'd like a tenner for all the posts complaining of problems with this make! Plus my son and his GF who have these in their cars.

JohnD

 

The fact that it got better after being 0 sugests faulty sender.However on the two classic engines ive had apart the screws were loose on the back of the oil pumps and this manifested the symptom of low oil pressure at idle, 0.8 bar on one if i remember.

 

I dont want to sound think, but I fitted these myself 2 years ago and they have been fine, so nothing to do with me but I can't remember what the orignal sensor looked like.

The reason I am asking is, when I took the old one out which for some reason I think was a blank nut with out any connection on, but now I'm trying to work out how the dash oil light would work if it was blank.

Have I taken the old one out which void's the dash light or does it work from somewhere else? I have gone completly blank and can't remember what I did.

Thanks

 

im sure the standard pressure sensor is on the block below the altornator, and the one you are on about with the blank nut would be for where most people put the oil temp sensor above cly 3 on the block next to the turbo