Engine oil psi gauge chatter

[promisedland]

A question for you all,... i have been noticing a chattering sound [not always, but always with a cold eng, not with a warm eng] it sounds like a high psi line chatter or electrical sparking [my explanation] Just this eve as i wanted to head home [cold eng] i heard it again... so i watched my gauges for a clue. {sound isnt steady,.. and goes away as eng warms up} AND i see my eng oil gauge starts to drop when the sound comes on and starts to rise to normal when sound fades. The needle is always moving up or down, maybe between 35 to 45 psi [not sure on this]
No leaks at the oil filter, i have slight seepage at my gauge though....

Air in my oil hose?? [filter housing to gauge] Gauge is in my cab in front of 4x4 shifter.

Oil psi is steady when sound ISNT there.

 

[promisedland]

Slight correction to above post...oil psi is 55 to 65 psi.
{didnt do it this eve]

Is there some sort of a psi regulater? Psi drops when i let off the pedal, then rises some.

 

[p-Bar]

Are you looking at stock gauge or aftermarket ?

 

[Wayne M.]

The power steering/ booster lines are known to buzz/chatter.

 

[seafish]

The stock dash oil pressure gauge uses an algorithm from the ECM to generate a psi number if it senses any pressure above 7 psi. In other words, in order to troubleshoot and/or coordinate your clatter with oil pressure, you will need to install a mechanical oil pressure sender and gauge, which IS a good idea to have anyway!!

 

[promisedland]

My OEM gauge shows 40+- psi ALL the time!
This is why i added a liquid filled gauge that shows REAL time psi.... I am talking about THIS gauge ^^^^ [non oem]

Just weird that psi drops some when i hear this noise,... worries me some.

 

[Wayne M.]

My OEM gauge shows 40+- psi ALL the time!
This is why i added a liquid filled gauge that shows REAL time psi.... I am talking about THIS gauge ^^^^ [non oem]

Just weird that psi drops some when i hear this noise,... worries me some.

BY ANY CHANCE, are you stepping on the brake when you experience this?

 

[promisedland]

Not at eng start up...

When stepping on the brakes at a stop light, the psi drops to 20- psi, then recovers, i dont hear the noise when on the brakes.
I could try pressing the brakes after start-up to see if this changes anything... The noise only happens if truck hasnt been started for overnight or so. And dosnt always happen.

 

[promisedland]

I know i could be spanked for this..
I ran a oil hose in my cab to my gauge. Regular 100 psi liquid filled gauge.

I have wondered if air could get in the line... drain back.

But why the noise? Is there a check valve in the filter housing?

 

[Wayne M.]

I know i could be spanked for this..
I ran a oil hose in my cab to my gauge. Regular 100 psi liquid filled gauge.

I have wondered if air could get in the line... drain back.

But why the noise? Is there a check valve in the filter housing?

No. Thats regulation hot rodder stuff. The other way is an electric gauge.

Where did you tap off for your gauge? It's possible some noise is telegraphing up through the line....

 

[promisedland]

My hose is threaded into the eng oil filter housing where i had a pipe plug. Right on top.
I dont think its noise telegraphing as my psi dips at the same time.

 

[RVTRKN]

Possible kink in the line somewhere. I installed a sending unit in that exact location. I didn't feel comfortable running a line into the cab, and besides, there can be a pressure drop due to length. Your dash oil pressure is worthless as you have demonstrated. Liquid filled gauges can fail, I know because I used to buy them all the time for my refrigerant gauges. There known to leak as well and that's why I went to a better manifold set. You described when pushing in the brake pedal you noticed a difference, maybe the line is effected by the lever that is pinching the line, that can also cause the chatter as well if the brake pedal lever is effecting the pressure.

 

[p-Bar]

Possible kink in the line somewhere. I installed a sending unit in that exact location. I didn't feel comfortable running a line into the cab, and besides, there can be a pressure drop due to length. Your dash oil pressure is worthless as you have demonstrated. Liquid filled gauges can fail, I know because I used to buy them all the time for my refrigerant gauges. There known to leak as well and that's why I went to a better manifold set. You described when pushing in the brake pedal you noticed a difference, maybe the line is effected by the lever that is pinching the line, that can also cause the chatter as well if the brake pedal lever is effecting the pressure.

Laws of hydraulics: diameter of line in a closed system or "static" won't have any effect on the pressure. Call the gauge manf. and see what they say . I have heard of this happening with boost gauges. as mentioned above about the line vibrating maybe a better strap job ? why don't you "bleed" the gauge crack it open and get the air out.

 

[cerberusiam]

Lot simpler explanation, the oil PR valve is releasing pressure when cold and not when warm.

 

[p-Bar]

Didn't know there was a PR on the oiling system ? Just a bypass in the filter housing?

 

[Bob4x4]

The oil pressure regulator valve is mounted in the oil filter head and can wear the bore or the spring can lose tension.The filter bypass valve is calibrated to open when the filter restriction is above 50 psi.this valve can also wear and is located in the filter head also.

 

[p-Bar]

The oil pressure regulator valve is mounted in the oil filter head and can wear the bore or the spring can lose tension.The filter bypass valve is calibrated to open when the filter restriction is above 50 psi.this valve can also wear and is located in the filter head also.

Thanks for that info . Good to know for all.

 

[cerberusiam]

Yep, as Bob pointed out it is likely one of them chattering when oil is cold and thick then quitting when it is warm. If wear is the issue they could even do it warm for a variety or reasons.

 

[Wayne M.]

Every oiling- or hydraulic system has some sort of pressure regulator/ safety. Not the best place to take a main OP reading.

 

[AH64ID]

There are 2 PR valves.

One is the filter bypass valve that opens at 50 psid on the filter.

The other is the cold oil bypass valve. It opens at 75 psi and returns the excess oil back to the oil pump.

When the noise occurs and the pressure drops are the rpms steady or dropping too?

I bet if you disconnect your gauge for troubleshooting the noise goes away. It's not uncommon for lines, especially liquid filled, to transmit noises you would otherwise miss.


On my engine I cannot see or hear a change with the bypass valve opens, the oil pressure simply hits 75-80 and stops regardless of rpms.