Oil Pressure "Gauge"

Where does everyones oil pressure gauge (bar) run at idle? As part of my weekly ritual I checked the engine oil and man is it so very light in color that it was difficult to see the oil between the circular holes.

 

At idle?

 

After the truck is warmed up the gauge reads about a quarter on a regular basis just shy of 3000 miles

 

Pretty sure Toyota went back to the 1/4 level mark to be normal on the new 3rd Gen, 2.5's are in the middle or slightly just below. Not sure why.

 

Thanks! That is what my gauge reads as well. What does it read when you're doing 65-70ish?

I wonder what the psi correlation is.

 

About the same unless I’m heavy on the skinny pedal

 

At low rpm after warm up it should read around 1/4, and higher at higher rpm’s.

 

Oil pressure fluctuations are a primarily result of oil temperature and engine RPM, not speed.
Oil pressure at 20MPH will be the same as at 70MPH if engine RPM is the same because of transmission gear selection.

Steve

 

I was wondering the same for my new Tundra with the oil gauge. I have the same question about the voltage gauge, mines always below the half way mark.

 

This is why no other brands provide actual moving oil pressure gauges anymore. Cause people freak out.

 

Mass-Hole, I don't think anyone is freaking out. Just seems odd that the the gauge reads in the lower quarter. Most times ideal is somewhere near the center of the range.
I only picked up my Tundra yesterday and was curious if mine was low.

 

There’s a warning for when oil pressure is too low. There’s also a warning for when battery voltage is too low. I wouldn’t worry about the gauges… especially one without units.

 

and this is one reason (not including people pouring non engine oil into the dipstick tube) why most oem's have removed the oil dipsticks. too many people complaining about the gauges showing wrong to them level on the gauge (but normal reading per the computer)

 

Exactly.

Ignorance is bliss. if the gauge just sat in the middle and never moved you wouldnt even think about it.

 

I’m reading at a 1/4 pressure and I was concerned. Good to know this is a “normal” reading.

 

I am concerned most of the time it is at 1/4. It is never above that. However what is concerning is when it goes to 0 - It does so if I am running 50, 70, 49 mph Etc and I come off the gas. Here is a picture That just doesn't seem right to me

 

This is because you own a hybrid and the engine is currently off in this pic. When the RPMs drop to zero, it’s because the gas engine is shut off and running/coasting in electric only mode. Oil pressure will drop to zero in an engine that isn’t on.

 

The engine is off. Notice how the needle on the tach is at 0 rpm. Can’t have oil pressure if the engine isn’t on… I’m pretty sure all hybrids shut the engine off even at highway speeds when not accelerating or coasting.

 

IM happy to see this thread on oil pressure gauge. Im reading everywhere that this is normal. Im also reading everywhere of engines dropping like crazy. Mine in September had seized camshaft right side. Oil pressure gauge reads at just below a quarter when rpm is under 2000 no matter the speed. At 70 Im under 2000 rpm. When cold it goes up then settles just under a quarter. So this seemed normal, however , just found this Toyota bulletin ,
Which describes my exact operation. What does that mean? I guess I have to call the dealer and see if this is normal or just software modification, or de we have low oil pressure and thats what is blowing these engines bearing failures.

 

2024 sr5 trd offroad.

first thing in the morning my gauge shoots up to about 3/4. As it idles down it settles around 1/2

it will bump back up to 3/4 as I accelerate until the truck is warmed up. Then it doesn’t really move when I’m driving.

 

I do exactly the same thing.

 

Mine gets towards 3/4 when accelerating from cold, but settles to about 1/3 at warm idle, and gets up to ~1/2 accelerating when warm.

 

with the engine oil up to temp (around 200*F) the gauge hovers around a quarter at idle. When idle fluctuates briefly and dips low, I will see as low as 9psi (very briefly) and averages around 12-13 psi (when viewing pressure with a scan tool).

at startup and above freezing temps its more like 3/4 and around 70psi or so of pressure. slightly higher during a really cold morning.

No TSB here, so if you have the TSB performed (computer flash for oil pressure and fuel reading fluctuations) you'll effectively get a dummy gauge from what I've read others reporting. Or should I say, a much less linear representation of what the actual pressure is.

 

You hit the nail on the head. It is simply a software modification that will change how the gauge represents oil pressure. Presumably this has been implemented in all the later model builds. I guess enough people complained and or are use to watching dummy gauges in late model cars that read smack in the middle as 'normal' operating value. This is very common with coolant temp gauges, especially those that are digital.

 

So just leave this alone you are saying. It’s a real pressure reading

 

Yes sir, it should not be of concern.

 

The pressure on my 23 is about 3/4 when the car is warming up.
I let it warm up a little and keep the rpms under 2k until operating temp.
Under 2k rpm the oil pressure is a little under 1/2.
Over 2k rpm at any speed the turbos spool and the pressure rises.

 

my 23 oil pressure shows just a tad above 1/4 when under 2k rpm's. jumps to above 1/2 after startup then settles down to just above 1/4.

have the fuel gauge issue on the 23 so this TSB doesnt apply since its only for 22's

 

Here are a few examples of my oil pressure.

Idle, under 2k moving and over 2k.

 

Before tsb mine was at about 1/4 pressure. After tsb it looks more normal at about 1/2 pressure