Pontiac Repair: 1996 Trans Am oil pressure, wierd noises, oil sending unit

Question
when i start my car the oil pressure reads normal (60 psi)...the longer i drive it slowly drops until it reaches 40 psi and runs a little rough (idleing is between 20 and 40 psi)

could this be an oil pump problem, oil sending unit, or another problem completly?

Answer
Hey Bryan:

it's really not a problem at idel that engine has very low oild pressure when it's hot. this is a normal condition. the issue is with the oil the multi grade oil eg: 10w-30 it thick 30 weight when hot thus higher pressure and when it's hot it's 10 weight oil so less oil pressure. If this engine had less than 10 psi it would be a bit leary but no it's a normal condition unless the gauge is very erratic and pegs past the high reading if that were the case it would be a sending unit issue. if the engine is making any kind of wierd noises that's not normal either and that could in dicate a reason for the low pressure but I don't think you have anything wrong with this.