Hey all, my friends' 1997 is showing no oil pressure on the factory gauge. I told him its probably the sender, but that should be verified before driving it.
So I offered to do it. And it needs to be done tomorrow am.

I need to buy a test gauge locally tomorrow morning, and then get it tested asap.

Where is the easiest place to test oil pressure and what tools, threaded fittings do I need? Do I need to remove anything to access?

Is the plug on top of the oil filter a good test point (I read somewhere that it is regulated at that port, so it might not read actual pressure)???

Thanks in advance

 

Buy a mechanical gauge and thread it into the oil filter port. Viola crescent wrench is all you need. You can also replace the oil sender. Hand twist off.

 

That's what I was hoping to do because I have to be in and out of there real fast tomorrow. And Im not as familiar with the second gen's as I am with 1st gens.

 

If the idiot light stays off, it's probably the oil pressure sending unit. Both functions are in the same unit, but they are separate electrically.

 

Thanks that was another question I had and forgot to ask.

 

I removed the sending unit from the block. I installed a grease gun hose (1/8" male pipe ends about 12" lg) in the block. Installed a coupling on the other end, then re-installed the sending unit. I used a tie-wrap to hold it away from the block. Eventually, I will replace the coupling with a "T" so I can also run a mechanical gauge.

Two days ago, while driving my truck the oil pressure dropped to zero when stopped. A little increase in RPM, the pressure was normal. So happened, I was near a shopping center with a parts store. When I pulled in the parking space, oil was dripping from under my truck. When I opened the hood, the driver side of the wheel well was dripping with oil. With the engine running, I could not see the oil source. I did see oil running down the wires from the sending unit. I unplugged the wires, ans discovered a small stream of oil squirting out of the center of the sending unit wire connector. I replaced the sending unit, problem solved.

My reason for telling this story is to point out how much easier it was to find the problem, with re-locating the sending unit. It was where I could see it, and easily work on it. Keep in mind, I was not at home, but on the road.

Wayne