i noticed this thing never stays constant, every time i look at it it's pointing somewhere else...sometimes it's below the halfway mark, sometimes beyond...is this thing for show, or does it have a function...it's been 400 miles since my last oil change, but this thing has always been pointing to diff. #'s..


p.s. while were on the gauges, what should the battery gauge read?

 

The oil pressure gauge will change with rpm and oil temp. It's for real, and it's normal. Just watch it when the engine's cold, wait for it to warm up before revving the engine to 4k or you'll hit up close to 120psi. The voltmeter should register 12-14 volts.

 

Clarification on the volt meter: it should be 12.x when the engine is not running, and 14.x when the engine is running.

When the engine is not running, your electricity is coming from the battery which puts out 12.x volts. When you start the engine, however, your electricity is coming from the alternator which puts out 14.x volts.

 

what's considered the "warm up" point on the oil gauge?

thanks for the help guys

 

My practice is stay under 3K rpm until the pressure gauge drops to 30 psi at idle. It takes much longer for the oil to warm than the water so the water temp gauge is not a good indicator that the engine has warmed up.