Ok so the last few times I took my car out the oil pressure needle has been jumping around a lot at idle. I didn't think much of it but maybe time for an oil change. Before I had a chance I was driving and lost complete oil pressure. Luckily I was close to home so I started heading in slowly, than out of no where the pressure came back and a few minutes later it went back to zero. In the 8 minutes it took me to get home the pressure went on and off about five times. The next morning I started the car and the needle was at zero but I know the engine was getting oil because I could hear the motor quiet down after about 30 seconds. Still zero oil pressure on the needle. I decided to take the car up the road to fill up with gas. Now this is the kicker. I get to the station shut the car off and start filling up. While waiting I turn the key to the on position and the oil pressure needle goes to 1 1/2 and slowly creeps up to 3 and than back down to 2. The engine is still off at this point. To my knowledge unless the car is running there is no oil pressure but I'm not sure with a dry system like the Porsche. Can one of you engine guys please tell me what's going on or how I should handle this. I'm afraid to to bring the car to a shop not having any knowledge of the possibilities. I feel most shops will abuse this type of situation.

 

I have never experienced this my self but past threads I have read usually say a bad oil pressure sending unit or a lose wire going to the sending unit. Do you have a durametric cable to check see if any codes pop up?

 

Agree with above check wires and sender unit.

 

I was thinking loose wire and read some posts on sending unit. I'm going to wait for some more feedback and than just bring it to a shop which starts a new problem. Can someone please tell me the name of a good Porsche shop in NJ near the George Washington bridge. I swear every shop that I have gone to in NJ lacks serious know how and if they know it comes with an inflated bill. Thanks!

 

my previous '02 996 C2 would show oil press at about .5 or so with eng off-- few times the oil pressure warning would pop up- it was the oil sending unit- on 996 non turbo you can see it on pass side of engine with 2 wires- sure it's diff on mezger eng though- i took wires off cleaned but same issue- dealer replace oil sending unit no more issues- there is diy for this on 996 forum here or RL for non-turbos-

 

tap on the connections ( wires)....

 

I'm assuming a faulty sender, or you may check that the wire connections are tight and free from oxidation. As a side note, you must have figured this, right? Driving with no oil pressure can totally destroy your motor with seconds if it is running.

 

Had the exact same thing the first day I had the car, driving home after buying my car. Scared the hell out of me. Long story short, it was the oil pressure sending unit. Replaced it and haven't had a problem since.

 

+1 on checking/moving connections on the oil pressure sender, located right behind the oil filter housing

 

Mine was acting up as well. I touched the wires seems fine now. Btw when oil pressure drops does it show any red light or warning?

 

NO red lights or check engine have ever come on since this problems started which tells me the engine is getting oil but not reading properly.