My 77 280z seems to be running high on oil pressure for some reason.

The pressure was running 12-15psi at idle when warmed up and around 55-60psi when driving hard and around 40-45psi when cruising.

Now it's at around 25-30psi when at idle and seems to climb to almost around 75psi when driving.

The motor still runs as smooth as it was before the high oil pressure readings both at idle and in gear but now has a slight but distinct clanking sound that wasn't there before. I can't seem to figure where it's coming either from but it's best heard if I listen underneath the car.

Only thing I was messing around with prior was the AFM but I wasn't even making adjustments, I was just fingering it to enrich or lean out the fuel/air mixture to see if the motor ran any differently, followed the directions on the Atlantic Z site. I'm getting really bad gas mileage. Anyways this wouldn't mess with the oil pressure right or could it?

Other than that, haven't done any mods to the car except upgrade to a 280zx alternator. But the oil pressure was fine after the conversion.

I know the oil pressure sending units go bad but don't bad sending units usually read low rather than high?

But then again there is that noise....

Any suggestions on where I should begin diagnosing?

The gauges on the old Zs aren't very accurate. Mine has a mechanical pressure gauge fitted to the same port as the sensor for the electric gauge in the dash and the dash gauge reads low by about 20 psi. I would first get a gauge that you know reads correctly and verify your oil pressure.

The gauges on the old Zs aren't very accurate. Mine has a mechanical pressure gauge fitted to the same port as the sensor for the electric gauge in the dash and the dash gauge reads low by about 20 psi. I would first get a gauge that you know reads correctly and verify your oil pressure.

I installed new Auto Meter gauges all the way a few months back.

I have the oil pressure gauge hooked up directly to the oil pressure sending unit. It reads fairly consistent with the old stock gauge I had before.

Edited August 13, 201113 yr by UR2H

Does the oil pressure vary directly and perfectly with engine RPM? ie does it read like a tach? If so, you may have a stuck relief valve in the oil pump. Likely just gummed up, or the spring broke.

Good thing the oil pump is on the outside!

Yes it does. Once I start giving it some throttle the oil pressure increases, it's always consistent. It's basically 10-15psi higher.

Weird thing is I found that after driving it for awhile, the oil pressure returns to "normal."

When you say the oil pump is gummed up, can it be cleaned out or should I just replace it?

Edited August 16, 201113 yr by UR2H

You don't need to replace your oil pump. If it's a gummed up relief valve, you might be able to solve the problem with an engine flush. Next oil change, run some Gunk motor flush in the crankcase for 5 min before draining your oil.

You don't need to replace your oil pump. If it's a gummed up relief valve, you might be able to solve the problem with an engine flush. Next oil change, run some Gunk motor flush in the crankcase for 5 min before draining your oil.

I will try that.

Curious...if the relief valve was broken and not just gummed up, what kind of pressure would I be getting?

Did the weather get cooler where you live?

I would GUESS a busted spring would result in too low an oil pressure, but I don't really have any experience with that. I suppose it's also possible to have a jammed relief valve (from debris from the spring?), which would result in high oil pressure.

FAIW, your oil pressure should naturally rise and fall with the engine speed; however, it usually stabilizes at a moderate RPM and doesn't get much higher at a high RPM.

Try this quick and cheap trick, replace the oil filter, it could be cloged. Don't forget to top off the oil when you are done.

^^^ not a bad idea!

John, the weather has been slightly cooler this month but still relatively warm.

FastWoman, the pressure does hold steady once I get around 3500rpm but it's around 70psi and around 25psi at idle. But after I drive the car around for 20 minutes or so the pressure drops back to normal, which is 55ish psi driving and 15ish psi at idle.

Horsemann, I did the oil change not too long ago, maybe 1000 miles ago and I have always stayed on schedule with the changes ever since I've had the car, which has been about 5 years.

I think I will change the oil out again soon though and run some of the gunk flush before I drain it. x

What wieght oil are you using ? And you said you are using an autometer electric oil pressure gauge are you using the stock sending unit or the autometer unit ? And I don't think changing your oil filter will make any difference if you have not bypassed the oil filter relief valve.

Edited August 19, 201113 yr by Zforce