Chrysler Repair: Oil pressure reading drops at idle: bad oil pump?, chrysler new yorker, warning light

Question
i have a 93 chrysler new yorker/fifth ave, smetimes when i come to a stop my oil pressure goes all the way down does that mean oil pump is bad or or pump screen is clogged?

Answer
Hi Jim,
I would suspect the gauge or the pressure sender unit may be inaccurate. The best way to see if there is a real problem is to remove the pressure sender, located near the oil filter, and substitite a calibrated gauge. It is supposed to read a minimum of 5 psi at idle, and 30-80 psi at 3,000 rpm. If your warning light is working ('on' when the ignition is 'on' but the engine isn't running) then I believe you are relatively safe to ignore the gauge, and count on the warning light. You can increase the pressure by increasing the 'weight' of the oil one step if you are close to being within spec.
Roland