Pontiac Repair: temperture rise & oil pressure drop, intake manifold gasket, pontiac sunbird

Question
QUESTION: I have a 92 Pontiac sunbird 4 cylinder and recently when I'm in idle or at a red light in Drive the temperture gage will start to overheat and the oil pressure will drop. I know its not the sensor because I can smell the car overheating and when I start driving everything goes back to normal.
         what do i do?
         Sam Birdzell

ANSWER: Hey Sam:

Well I looks like I have some bad news. I'd like to say that it's a bad gauge but I doubt it. If the engine is getting so hot that the oil is loosing it viscosity but I doubt it I would say the engine is worn out and that you do have an overheating issue. What engine does this have? Is it's a 4 cylinder than it could be something as easy as a water pump leaking or a hose but that engine was noted for head gasket failures. If it's bad enough where the coolant is into the oil then the engine is more than likely junk. If it's the 6 cylinder engine then it could be a lower intake manifold gasket that's leaking,water pump hose etc.. But in either case the fact that your loosing oil pressure is not a good thing. Pull the dipstick out and look at the oil level and color if it's white or tan looking don't drive it and get it towed to a shop so they can find the problem. Actually If it's getting that hot I wouldn't drive it anyways.. Sorry to be the barer of bad news.. You also have to weigh your options this car is now 16 years old and unless it is in mint condition spending a big amount of $ on it is not really worth it? Good luck :)


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: As I stated earlier its a 4 cylinder. I looked at the oil today and it looks fine. the car only has 98000 miles on it. To make it clear with the oil pressure it drops when I'm in idle or hitting the breaks coming off the interstate it doesn't go into the red,  one line above the red and when I hit the gas it goes back up. Same with the temperature gauge when I'm in idle or slowing down the temp goes up but when I rev the gas it goes down but it will go into the red and the gauge light will go on if I don't rev or move the car. I don't see how an engine could go bad with so little miles. Should I put on a water pump? or is the drastic change in oil pressure worse then i want to believe?


Answer
Fluctuation in the oil pressure is normal but if it real low that's not good. How is the coolant level in the car? If it's low it could be your problem and if it's low why? It had to go somewhere. I just mentioned the water pump as a possible leak point they will not cause an over heat issue per say. You could have a thermostat that is acting up and doesn't open and close properly. Another thing could be a coolant fan issue. If the car has A/that and it still works turn it on with the car running the fan should come on eventually. If not then that is something to look at. Lastly I'm not sure about that year car but some of the older S/birds had a copper radiator and the pins on those radiators have a tendency to plug up with corrosion. You have check that as well.If it has an aluminum radiator with plastic side tanks I doubt it's a radiator issue. Just a few things to think about Again without seeing the car it's hard to tell you exactly what the issue could be. I would look at the oil pressure real hard though. Get a mechanical gauge to verify that it is indeed low. Good luck this is just a few other things to look at. :)