280SL Erratic Oil Pressure Gauge

[ctaylor738]

My 1984 280SL has an erratic oil pressure guage. This is the electric gauge. When I got the car, it went to 3 bar when the ignition was turned on and stayed there. Always. I checked it out per the manual and replaced the sending unit when I did the head.

Now it works sporadically. Today, for example, the OP came down to 1.5 bar at idle as the car warmed up. Then I stopped at the bank and shut the engine off for a couple of minutes. Restarted and the gauge immediately pegged and stayed there. Arrived at work, shut ignition off, but gauge stayed pegged. I am sure that when I leave for home, it will be down to zero, and the cycle will repeat, or it may work for a while.

Ideas?

Maybe the guage got screwed up from when before all it knew was to peg 3 bar!

I'm not sure you got my message Chuck, if you didn't, I want to thank you again for sending the downloads of info on my fuel system. I have a much better picture now of what's going on in there. Currently, the engine is running good, but I know I need to get in there and do some work soon....Thanks again...BusyBenz