help ..oil pressuge gauge spiked !

[chipinsc]

I have a 2005 pathfinder about 70k miles today while driving got an audible warning then I saw the oil pressure gauge had spiked, I shut it down , restarted it sounded fine, I was only about a mile from home drove home parked it , oil was changed about 3 weeks ago HELP !!!

[Towncivilian]

Welcome to NICO.

Check the oil level - is it within the two holes on the dipstick? Are there any leaks on the underside of the vehicle? What brand oil & filter is being used? If you didn't change your own oil, who did?

[chipinsc]

oil level is fine , no leaks visible , castrol , wife had it done at wal mart ...should the gauge peg to high if ignition turned on but not started

[Towncivilian]

I'm not sure. Does the oil pressure warning lamp come on with the ignition set to "ON"?

[chipinsc]

No warning light just the gauge spiking when turned to on ( not starting it )

[Towncivilian]

The warning light is supposed to be illuminated when the ignition switch is ON (but engine off). Your oil pressure sending unit is probably faulty, especially given that the engine sounds fine and the gauge is pegged with the ignition on. If you provide your VIN, I can give you an exact OEM part number for a replacement. See page LU-7 of the factory service manual for the oil pressure sending unit's location.

[chipinsc]

checked again no light

[Chuck Tribolet]

Spiking high is almost always the sender or the gauge. The FSM will tell how to test the sender. If it really is sending a high
signal, it's probably a bad sender (actually oil pressure just doesn't fail high, it fails low). The sender has a tougher life than
the gauge (It runs at nearly the temperature of cooking french fries).

Chuck

[chipinsc]

could the fact the the temp here was 107 today have an effect on it ?

[Towncivilian]

I doubt ambient temperature has anything to do with it.

The FSM has little in the way of information regarding the oil pressure sending unit. I didn't find a testing procedure. The OEM part is inexpensive if purchased online, around $25 + shipping, so if you would provide me your VIN I can give you an exact part number to purchase.

[chipinsc]

FSM is that the fuel sending module ? if so is that same mod that sends to the fuel gauge ?

[Ron Burgundy]

FSM - Factory Service Manual;

Found here: pathfinder-qx4-general-information-and-q-a-t549378.html

[chipinsc]

thanks Ron wasnt sure the acronym & we had the fuel sending mod replaced about 2 years ago

[yngw13]

OP beware of WALMART lube jobs (youtube/google are friends)...if you love your car bring it to more reputable places...tell wifey

[Towncivilian]

Sorry about the unclear wording regarding the "FSM" acronym.

I agree about avoiding WalMart TLE; they use even cheaper versions of the Fram orange can filters. These cheaper filters use a plastic nylon cage rather than a steel center tube (commonly referred to as "E-core design"). Many filter applications have been consolidated to somewhere around 7 filters total, so the bypass PSI specification may not be ideal for your vehicle.

[chipinsc]

Town, can you message me , system wont allow me to send you one.

[Towncivilian]

PM sent. You need 10 posts before being able to use the private messaging system. It's a spambot counter-measure; sorry for the inconvenience.