PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post - Oil gauge peaks at only 2.75 when pegged

gmercoleza · #4 01-27-2005, 10:45 AM

I watched the oil gauge the whole way to work today. Still pegged at about 2.75. Now here's the kicker - if I put the car in neutral and rev it really high, the pressure slowly moves up, hitting almost 3 right as the tach hits redline. Does this indicate a blockage somewhere?

I've been thinking about what I said before; I'm positive the gauge used to hit 3 before I did the water pump. I'm psycho about my gauges and always watch them as I drive around. I'm absolutely certain that I would have noticed the gauge at 2.75. So the question remains - could I have bumped something while doing the water pump that could have caused this to happen? Why would the gauge read a perfect 3 before the water pump replacement, and then only 2.75 afterwards? Could I have dripped antifreeze or oil onto an electrical connector somewhere, forming a resistance in a circuit? I don't really know how the gauge works - I'm just throwing a wild theory out there.

As a reminder, the gauge always reads steady at just below 1 when the car is hot and put in drive. Slightly higher when it's in neutral or park. Aside from the new maximum of 2.75, it seems to behave properly in every other way. I run dino 20W50 and change the oil every 3000 miles. It is always clean when it comes out.

It's going to be raining today when I get off work, and the big spring above our garage door broke last night, so the door is stuck in the down position (any suggestions on that problem are also welcome). As a result, I won't be able to troubleshoot this problem for at least the next day or so.

Help! Anyone??? I don't want to damage my engine!