Just put a new filter on from the dealer ($4 more than Pep B's Purolator...no biggie).

Replaced the two filter canister shaft rubber seal rings.

Bingo...lol......Oil gauge needle pegs at about 900 rpm and drops to the 2 mark at idle in keeping with all previous change observations.

So maybe there was something with the oil filter? Seal rings seemed fairly fresh...I think I had about 15k miles on them. Swapped them out anyway.

This was about the 95th oil change I've done on the car (416K miles). Run both syn and dino oils and various wt's. Seen some small variances in idle oil pressure due to oil type, oil temperature etc. But never a pegged needle at idle.

As always I appreciate all your input!

P.S. also going to clean the sensor connector (good tip)..thx

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1986 300SDL 440,xxx