This might be a no brainer question, but yesterday when i test drove an 08 350z touring model, the oil pressure gauge on the dash was all over the place. I asked at the dealership and they told me they didnt know why it was doing that. I would assume that when the car is in gear the pressure would be higher, but once its out of gear it would drop to almost no oil pressure. Does that make any sense to anyone else and does anyone elses Z do the same thing?

 

Oil pressure is dependent on factors such as engine RPM. Generally the higher the RPM the higher the pressure. So a trip around town oil pressure will vary.

But the gage should NOT be erratic.

 

Yeah, I mean I would be coming up to a red light and say the oil pressure was reading 60, as soon as i would stop and take it out of gear at the light, there would be no pressure at all.

 

The oil pressure will run very high and be erratic when the car is very cold or when it starts up. Just make sure it is high when the car starts up from sitting and it should level out when the car warms up. It will move around a little bit depending how many RPMS your car is running at.

 

sounds normal

 

+1. The needle should move up and down depending on engine load. It shouldn't be all over the place either.

 

I just picked up an 08 a couple weeks ago... These guys are spot on.