Whenever I'm starting my car up, idling after it warms up, driving down the highway or ready to turn it off the oil pressure bar is always maxed out to 3. Is this a known problem with the engine, or sensor? I there something I should test out before I go about replacing parts.

I've been running Amoil motor oil since I got the car.

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Professional greasecar installer
Austin TX


98 Jetta TDI with grease car kit + veg-therm (totaled)
87 MB 300SDL running on B99 / greasecar kit + 30 fphe
www.austingreaseguys.com

Normal.

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1980 300 TD

1997 Dodge Pickup/Cummins 5.9 12-valve

Really, it's 3 even with the engine off. I'm thinking it's a bad sensor. But before I start putting money down to fix the problem, I thought I would ask.

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Professional greasecar installer
Austin TX


98 Jetta TDI with grease car kit + veg-therm (totaled)
87 MB 300SDL running on B99 / greasecar kit + 30 fphe
www.austingreaseguys.com

[QUOTE=latitude500;1989737]Really, it's 3 even with the engine off. QUOTE]

In your first post you didn't say it is at 3 when the engine is off. Just to be sure, you are saying that it is at 3 when it is NOT running or only when it is running?

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1983 300SD
200000miles

First, make sure the sensor is connected. It could have slipped off.

No it is not normal for it to be at 3 with the car off. It is normal for it to be 3 when the car is in motion somewhere around1.5 to 2 at idle.

Also the gauge itself could be stuck, otherwise it should be 0 when the car is turned off.

The posts are a bit confusing because you say 'right up to 3' then you state it is 3 when the car is off in your 2nd post. You need to clarify a bit more about it.

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2009 ML320 Bluetec
1985 300CD
1981 300TD

Past Mercedes
1979 300TD
1982 300TD
2000 E320 4Matic Wagon
1998 E430
1984 300SD
1980 300SD

Maybe a ground issue in the dash??? Just guessing.

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daw_two
Germantown, TN

Links:
Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
Cluster Needles Paint
New Old Stock (NOS) parts

Past:
3/2008 1986 300SDL "Coda"
04/2010 1965 190D(c) "Ben"
& many more

Bad Sensor or a ground issue.

Time to start tracing wires and testing resistance of the old sender.

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91 350SD
14 F150 Eco
19 Fusion Hybrid
11 GT500

Had the same problem and it was a faulty sensor about 2 days ago. But it could be the things they say about grounded wires or something. Shouldn't be hard to replace if it's the sensor (only speaking from experience).

isnt that why i slap the dashboard once a day
it drops the temp 10 degrees too

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commercial fisherman diesel in my blood in my boats trucks and Dear old Dad has had me drivin them since i got my first license in 1968
1986 300 SDL 427654
1999 Chevy Crew Cab Dually 225423
1986 300 SDL 287000 Dad's
1987 190 Turbo 158000 Mom's (my inheritance)

Thanks for the info, When the engine is off, and the key is in the on position it jumps right to 3, even when the engine is off. But if I pull the key out, it drops down to 0.

I'll see if I can trace the wires, and start there.

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Professional greasecar installer
Austin TX


98 Jetta TDI with grease car kit + veg-therm (totaled)
87 MB 300SDL running on B99 / greasecar kit + 30 fphe
www.austingreaseguys.com

Sounds like either bad ground, bad guage, or bad sending unit.

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RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

91 W124 300D Turbo replaced, Pressure W/G actuator installed. 210K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

Normal.

My gauge goes to 3 when I turn on the key, drops to zero as I start and right back to three.

When the engine is hot, it idles between 2 and 3. This my experience with three '87s. One of them idled at 2bars, others at ~2.5.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff