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With an oil pressure gauge:
Remove the oil sender unit and install an oil pressure gauge at the cold engine and let the engine warming up. And record oil pressure data.
You will see if the oil pressure match your problems if so then there is an internal leak or bad oil pump or old engine oil.
Did it stay there? If so, put a pressure gauge on the engine, to check the actual pressure and then you will be able to tell if it is just the sending unit/pressure sw , that is off.
It might not be anything wrong with your fuel sending unit. Keep an eye on your other gauges. I own a 2004 Pontiac Bonneville GXP. All of my gauges have started acting erratically. It started with my Temp. gauge, moved on to my speedometer, and now my oil pressure , fuel level and batty volt gauges are affected too. Its a very common problem with GM vehicles.
Oil pressure is read by the sending unit, not created by it. If you replaced the sender and do not see a minimum of 20psi there is something wrong inside the engine.Some people will tell you that 5psi is "safe". In reality, in an otherwise perfect engine it may be but in real world application, the 20psi number is the lowest I'd ever accept in any engine.(at idle) Running pressure is influenced by temperature and oil grade, but this should not vary dramatically. It is best to attach a mechanical oil pressure gauge to the engine and in that way, you can read the exact pressure. If the mechanical gauge reads the same or very close to what you see on the dash, then the reading is correct and if low you will need further diagnosis to determine why.
The oil pressure sending unit is located behind the oil filter, Threaded into an aluminunm housing. It has wiring that plugs into the sending unit. The oil filter has to be removed and you will need a deep well socket and a 6 inch extension. Change the oil and the sending unit together.
leaking oil pressure sender
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