Oil Pressure

[drraulduke]

I'm new to the site and just got my first Porsche about a month ago. It's a 1986 944 with a custom performance DME chip that was installed before I bought the car. My question is about the oil pressure while driving and idling. In my car the oil pressure is always between 4 and 5 bar. It never drops down below 4 bar even when idling. I know that the oil pressure is supposed to drop to approximately 2-3 bar when idling after the car warms up. How big of a problem is this, if a problem at all? Could this be do to a faulty gauge or also do to the new DME chip? Could it simply mean an oil change? The previous owner suggested that I have another 1000 miles before an oil change, but I'm not positive about that based on visual inspection of the oil. Thanks for any suggestions and help.

update...I just read at clark's garage that if your oil pressure is pegged high (5 bar) or won't indicate less than 4 bar at normal operating temperature, there is likely a problem with the oil pressure sending unit. Has anybody else found anything similar?

Edited January 11, 2010 by drraulduke

[magcuda]

if the gauge is pegged then you have a problem with the sender and or wiring

there was a superceded oil pressure relief valve to lower the oil pressure

they though it would help with oil leaks

your car should already have this, it was usually installed when the oil cooler seals were replaced

[drraulduke]

Thanks! I have a feeling that it is the sender unit. It doesn't seem too difficult to replace myself. Has anybody else tried this before?

[wvicary]

The sender is very easy to replace. It's located on the right side of the engine at the oil cooler.

[drraulduke]

The sender is very easy to replace. It's located on the right side of the engine at the oil cooler.

Thanks Wvicary. I'll give it a try.