# Oil Pressure

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-pressure/24360>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [January 4, 2009, 6:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-pressure/24360 "2009-01-04T18:01:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![pmaniatty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5fc32e/32.png) [@pmaniatty](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pmaniatty)\
**Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 6:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-pressure/24360/1 "2009-01-04T18:01:17Z")

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I own a 95 Ford Crown Victoria that has about 180,000 miles on it. Recently, at highway speeds only, I have noticed the oil pressure gauge dip slightly below the half way mark and flutter somewhat. Once I slow to city street speeds, the gauge returns to it’s normal position, just above the half way mark, and remains stable.  
  
  
  
 Any idea what’s going on here?  
  
  
  
 Thanks in advance for your responses  
  
  
  
 Phil Maniatty  
  
 Miami, Florida

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**Author:** ![Xebadaih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/d07c76/32.png) [@Xebadaih](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Xebadaih)\
**Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 7:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-pressure/24360/2 "2009-01-04T19:10:52Z")

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If you’re worried about it have the oil pressure tested, independent of the gauge. If the gauge is fluctuating between slightly above and below half way there probably isn’t an issue. Oil pressure increases and decreases naturally with engine rpm, so some fluctuation is normal. But if you are uncomfortable with it have it checked out. Improper oil pressure will destroy your engine faster than just about anything.

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**Author:** ![tardis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f0a364/32.png) [@tardis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tardis)\
**Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 8:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-pressure/24360/3 "2009-01-04T20:40:10Z")

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You have some sort of gauge malfunction. That is not a real oil pressure gauge. It can only read no pressure, or at the half way mark. It is connected to a pressure switch, not a pressure sender. The car might as well have a oil pressure light instead.