Hey all, i was driving around town and after i started my car up the oil pressure went to its normal spot but then slowly dropped all the way to zero, causing the alarm beeper to go off. i pulled over, leaving the engine idling and checked the car. i couldnt hear any strange noises like tapping or anything like that and my oil level was fine with no leaks. I then (stupidly) decided to drive home which was about 5 kms through town (about 20 minutes with traffic) and observed no fluctuation to the gauge, no extra engine noises and no rise in engine temperature. Would everybody be in agreeance in say that i have a buggered sensor and/or wiring to the sensor? Cheers.

Just Updating

I went outside to check the connection to the sensor, which was a bit dirty so i cleaned it up a bit. I then started the car and its pressure seemed to be fine for about 5 - 10 mins and then it dropped slowly to zero again. i also checked the resistance between the input terminal on the sensor and the battery negative before starting which showed 0.2 ohms. once again, even while running the engine with apparently zero oil pressure there still wasnt any extra tapping or noises out of the ordinary.
after turning the car off for a couple of minutes and turning it back on, the pressure came up to about 1/4 and then dropped back to zero again.

It does sound like a buggered sensor, but in my experience they either work or they don't. I have never encountered one that does what yours is.

Whatever you do, dont drive any distance.

There is a mylar disc in the Oil Pressure sender. It takes oil pressure on one side, and transfers it to the oil pressure electrical's on the other.

That disc splits - Meaning like you observed, Oil pressure goes up, then the oil goes through the split and equalises. Looks like no oil pressure.

Thus far were ok - no problems. However -

... The oil presure senders are not designed to be oil-tight from the inside out. The oil pressure will result in an oil leak, and you'll get oil everywhere. In my case - All over the P/S Cat while driving 500km. I didnt know (it was raining - lucky!), and by the time I got home was a little low on oil.

If you do nothing else, replace it with a switch for now. The sender is common to all EF/EL series 6 and 8 falcons, and isnt too bad to get to. You will need a suitable deep socket to get it off without damaging it though.

Nigel

you beauty cheers mate. ill head down to the parts store today and grab one (hopefully in stock). thanks again, hopefully this cures the issue.

they seem to be easy enough to get into to remove but i didnt realise that you require a socket that nobody in toowoomba on a sunday has. does anybody know what kind of socket this is? is it a specialty one at all?

you need an extra deep socket, cant remember the size tho

Socket required is 1 1/16 inch deep. Take your new oil sender with you - many of them dont work.

I use a Force Tools socket from Discount tools. Half inch drive may or may not be required for clearance for the spade on the end of the sender

Nigel