QuestionQUESTION: We have talked before But this isnt on my dads Chevy SSr it is on my moms 1998 Chevy Camaro. I looked over at the gauges yesterday. I seen that when we sit in traffic that her oil pressure goes down to 20. I looked over at her battery and it goes down into the red on the low side. The battery is brand new. When she drives the oil pressure goes to about 40 and the battery goes to about 10 or 11 volts. I figured it was because we had the a/c on full blast the radio on and she had her phone charging. The oil pressure gauge needle wobbles back and forth when you are sitting still when you drive it does fine it doesnt wobble anymore. The car smells like it has an oil leak. When you shut it off it you can hear something dripping down and burning off. Any suggestions.
ANSWER: HI SEAN,WELL AS FAR AS THE 10 OR 11 VOLTS GOES IF THIS IS TRUE,[SOME FACTORY GAUGES ARE REAL BAD,NOT ACCURATE] THIS CAR WILL NOT RUN MUCH LONGER. SOUNDS LIKE THE ALTERNATOR IS ON ITS WAY OUT...I WOULD GET A VOLT METER IF YOU CAN AND HOOK IT UP TO THE BATTERY,TURN YOUR LIGHTS ON AND A/C RUN THE IDLE UP TO ABOUT 1500 RPMS AND YOU SHOULD BE CHARGING AT ABOUT 13.5 TO 14.5 VOLTS. IF NOT THE ALTERNATOR IS NOT CHARGING TO SPECS. IF IT IS CHARGING LIKE SAY 12.5 VOLTS TO 13.2 OR SO,, MORE THEN LIKLEY A FEW DIODES ARE BAD IN THE ALT..REBUILD IT OR GET A REBUILT UNIT..MAKE SURE THAT IT IS CHARGING SOMEWHAT HOWEVER THAT WAY YOU WILL KNOW IF THERE IS POWER TO IT..IF THERE IS NO CHARGE OUTPUT AT ALL, MAKE SURE THERE IS BATTERY VOLTAGE TO THE BIG RED WIRE ON THE BACK OF THE ALT..IF SO,DO AS ABOVE ,GET A ALTERNATOR. AS FAR AS THE OIL PRESSURE DROPPING TO 20 LBS AT IDLE THAT IS NOT BAD IN HOT WEATHER,RAISE THE IDLE AND THE PRESSURE SHOULD COME BACK UP TO 35 TO 40 LBS IF THERE IS ENOUGH OIL IN THE PAN. [REMEMBER ENGINES ONLY NEED 15 TO 20 LBS OF OIL PRESSURE] AS FAR AS THE FLUCTUATION AT IDLE MORE THEN LIKELY THE SENDING UNIT IS BAD. [OIL PRESSURE SWITCH] MOST COMMON. THE LAST QUESTION IS SOMETHING DRIPPING AND BURNING. ARE YOU SURE THIS IS NOT WATER FROM THE A/C SYSTEM,EVAPORATOR DRAIN ??? DO YOU SEE OIL ON THE GROUND ?? IF YOU DO, I WOULD TAKE IT AND HAVE THIS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED ASAP... IF YOU DO NOT SEE ANY OIL ON THE GROUND,THE ENG MAY HAVE A VERY SMALL LEAK OF OIL LEAKING ON TO THE EXH MANIFOLDS OR EXH CROSSOVER PIPE BURNING AND CAUSING THE SMELL..YOU SHOULD NOT HEAR ANY KIND OF DRIP FROM OIL.. MORE THEN LIKELY IT IS WATER...LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED MORE INFO,AND PLEASE RATE THIS ANSWER FOR ME..THANK YOU,,,TOM.
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QUESTION: Yeah it has an oil leak but it isnt enough to worry about. You can see it on the oil pan. The oil pan gasket has never been changed so I will change it when I change the oil. Where is the oil pressure switch located at. Thanks.
ANSWER: HI AGAIN, IF IT IS A V8, THE SWITCH IS IN THE BACK OF ENG BY THE DIST ON DRIVERS SIDE. ON TOP OF THE BLOCK.
NOW FOR THE V6 [YOU HAD TO ASK DIDN'T] I DON'T KNOW !!!! BUT A GUESS IS BY THE OIL FILTER HOUSING..LOOK DOWN BY THE FILTER AND SEE IF THE SWITCH IS THERE....IF NOT,, GET BACK TO ME ON MAONDAY AND I WILL LOOK IT UP FOR YOU...TOM..
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QUESTION: Yeah it is a v8 thanks for allof your help.
AnswerHI SEAN,I DONT WANT YOU TO TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY. I SEE THAT YOU HAVE THANKED ME FOR MY TIME,THIS IS GOOD. AND I TRULY THANK YOU FOR THAT. BUT WOULD YOU PLEASE RATE THIS BEFORE YOU LEAVE THIS SITE,BECAUSE THIS IS THE ONLY WAY I CAN KEEP UP MY STATUS AND KEEP A [HIGH RANKING IF POSSIBLE] WITH ALL EXPERTS. THE RATINGS IS ALL THEY SEE AND COUNT ON.. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AGAIN ,,TOM..
