oil pressure sensor/sending unit going bad

dragonwingblazer · 06-25-2009, 09:43 AM

is this a common thing on the 2.8's for these to go bad? it still shows oil pressure about where i think it would be but i noticed a bad oil leak last week and tracked it down to be leaking out of the center on the sending unit mounted right to the side of the oil filter area.its a bad enough leak that it drips about every 10 seconds

Rhotpursuit · 06-25-2009, 09:51 AM

Define common...If it's a 2.8 it's getting pretty old and problems arise. Replace it and all will be right in the universe...

Rustdaway · 06-25-2009, 10:33 AM

Its a piece of plastic that is close to 20 years old or older now that has pressure put through it everytime and all during engine operations. I would leak a little too at that age and mileage.

dragonwingblazer · 06-26-2009, 09:38 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Rhotpursuit

Define common...If it's a 2.8 it's getting pretty old and problems arise. Replace it and all will be right in the universe...

common meaning is this the kinda thing most people with high milage blazers 210k(though most of the last 60k plus was towed behind a rv)have to replace

dragonwingblazer · 06-26-2009, 09:41 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Rustdaway

Its a piece of plastic that is close to 20 years old or older now that has pressure put through it everytime and all during engine operations. I would leak a little too at that age and mileage.

piece of plastic? everywhere i called said it looked like like it was brass looking piece. are these things that cheap that they came with plastic pressure sensors? hell even my 150psi fast bag setup came with metal pressure sensors

Rustdaway · 06-26-2009, 04:53 PM

The casing is plastic. Do a search on here. The 4.3 and 2.8 are the same. Couple have a bit different plug in. Search key is your friend.

dragonwingblazer · 06-27-2009, 09:51 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Rustdaway

The casing is plastic. Do a search on here. The 4.3 and 2.8 are the same. Couple have a bit different plug in. Search key is your friend.

i got a decent price on a new one at o'rieleys yesterday so ill be putting it on later today. and actually it looks to be about 2/3rds plastic. i didnt realize the tiny gutless 2.8 was the same as a 4.3 on these.
and im not a newbie to car forums i know about the search buttons, and i did try it though i probably must have missed an answer to this since you mentioned it sorry

Rebel_US · 06-27-2009, 11:28 AM

well, think of it this way: your working with alot lower pressures (50 tops?) than your bag system and dont have to deal with the 'hammer' affects of sudden pressure changes, well HOPFULLY dont have to !

And it's common for ALL parts to fail - why else would parts stores stock them? Your arguing about a couple of dollars worth of sensor. If it's broke replace it & move along in life.

And I rather enjoy my 'tiny gutless 2.8' every time I pass a gas station, I would have especially after Katrina a few years back when I had to wait 2 hours to get gas for the car I had at the time and at 4 bucks a gallon.

For a vehicle 23 years old, getting +30 MPG is rather sweet and I have enough left over after a fill up to get a 6 pack...causing the leaks mentioned in #3....

dragonwingblazer · 06-28-2009, 07:31 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Rebel_US

well, think of it this way: your working with alot lower pressures (50 tops?) than your bag system and dont have to deal with the 'hammer' affects of sudden pressure changes, well HOPFULLY dont have to !

And it's common for ALL parts to fail - why else would parts stores stock them? Your arguing about a couple of dollars worth of sensor. If it's broke replace it & move along in life.

And I rather enjoy my 'tiny gutless 2.8' every time I pass a gas station, I would have especially after Katrina a few years back when I had to wait 2 hours to get gas for the car I had at the time and at 4 bucks a gallon.

For a vehicle 23 years old, getting +30 MPG is rather sweet and I have enough left over after a fill up to get a 6 pack...causing the leaks mentioned in #3....

lol if it was a couple dollar part it wouldnt be that big of a deal but it turned out to be a $57 part, and that was the cheapest i found everybody else wanted $100 for the same part.
gas milage is nice, but the lack of power sucks. the 3.8 n/a motor 05 grand prix gets mid 30's on the mpg's regularly and it will put you back in your seat and will smoke the tires in first and 2nd gear.
but in all honesty i didnt buy the blazer to go fast anyways, i bought it because its a 4wd and because these old blazers got a good reputation for being tough old beasts once you work out the bugs.
someday this old blazer will likely see a 350 in it, but that not until the 2.8 either costs too much to keep going or dies on me(which might be a long time since it now runs perfect and even has 0 smoke on startup)

Rhotpursuit · 06-28-2009, 12:10 PM

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,ca...,parttype,4588

Rebel_US · 06-28-2009, 12:29 PM

http://www.autozone.com/

search for OIL SWITCH

dude - I see the switch alone for about 6 bucks...what did YOU buy ??

big gear head · 06-30-2009, 11:20 AM

If you have the oil pressure gauge instead of the light then it is a comon problem for them to leak. I've put about 5 of them on my truck in the last 13 years. I found that the cheap ones will start leaking in a year or less. I buy the Borg Warner senders and they last a lot longer. They cost a little more, but it's worth it when you can just barely get to the thing to change it. I also have a 4X4, and it's not easy to get to it.

Rebel_US · 06-30-2009, 01:10 PM

whoops - I just caught that, mine uses an IDIOT switch - yours might actually be a sending unit...my mistake.

dragonwingblazer · 07-01-2009, 04:26 PM

rhot none of those listed in the link you put up looked to be the right one, the one i have is a 3 blade connector
gear head , yeah i have the guage on my dash not the idiot light. it probably would have helped if i mentioned i have a 88 blazer 4x4 and yes that is a major pita to swap out especially if the oil filter i just put on a month gets stuck on and i had to tear it up to even get it off!

Rustdaway · 07-09-2009, 12:46 PM

Should be part number PS252 and it has 3 prongs.

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/cat...uestid=2495152

KickerPower91 · 07-10-2009, 12:21 AM

My oil switch went bad in my 91 s-10, replaced it, all was well afterwards. was a pretty cheap part aswell.

dragonwingblazer · 07-11-2009, 09:22 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Rustdaway

Should be part number PS252 and it has 3 prongs.

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/cat...uestid=2495152

if thats the right one then i dont what the hell they quoted me $105 for

Rustdaway · 07-11-2009, 12:48 PM

Just typed in 88 blazer 4x4 with 2.8 L and thats what it came up with. Call the store with the part number and see what they want for it. Then verify it fits that vehicle.

If you do it the other way around than it gives them the idea you dont know what you are talking about. Just say "Ok, and that fits an 88 blazer 4x4 with a 2.8?"

Hope it helps.

dragonwingblazer · 07-15-2009, 09:49 AM

it probably didnt help when i was calling and asking for a sensor when it was technically a oil pressure switch. though that just proves that autozone and advanced are a bunch of idiots that know nothing about vehicles since the person i talked to at o-rieleys knew exactly what i was talking about with teh exact same description

06-25-2009, 09:43 AM	#1
dragonwingblazer Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 23 Location: User is: OffLine	oil pressure sensor/sending unit going bad is this a common thing on the 2.8's for these to go bad? it still shows oil pressure about where i think it would be but i noticed a bad oil leak last week and tracked it down to be leaking out of the center on the sending unit mounted right to the side of the oil filter area.its a bad enough leak that it drips about every 10 seconds
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-25-2009, 09:51 AM	#2
Rhotpursuit Ticket Magnet Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 4,267 Location: Spanaway, Wa User is: OffLine	Re: oil pressure sensor/sending unit going bad Define common...If it's a 2.8 it's getting pretty old and problems arise. Replace it and all will be right in the universe...
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-25-2009, 10:33 AM	#3
Rustdaway Honor, Grace, and Dignity Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 344 Location: IL User is: OffLine	Re: oil pressure sensor/sending unit going bad Its a piece of plastic that is close to 20 years old or older now that has pressure put through it everytime and all during engine operations. I would leak a little too at that age and mileage.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-26-2009, 09:38 AM	#4
dragonwingblazer Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 23 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: oil pressure sensor/sending unit going bad Quote: Originally Posted by Rhotpursuit Define common...If it's a 2.8 it's getting pretty old and problems arise. Replace it and all will be right in the universe... common meaning is this the kinda thing most people with high milage blazers 210k(though most of the last 60k plus was towed behind a rv)have to replace Last edited by dragonwingblazer : 06-26-2009 at 09:43 AM.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-26-2009, 09:41 AM	#5
dragonwingblazer Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 23 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: oil pressure sensor/sending unit going bad Quote: Originally Posted by Rustdaway Its a piece of plastic that is close to 20 years old or older now that has pressure put through it everytime and all during engine operations. I would leak a little too at that age and mileage. piece of plastic? everywhere i called said it looked like like it was brass looking piece. are these things that cheap that they came with plastic pressure sensors? hell even my 150psi fast bag setup came with metal pressure sensors
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-26-2009, 04:53 PM	#6
Rustdaway Honor, Grace, and Dignity Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 344 Location: IL User is: OffLine	Re: oil pressure sensor/sending unit going bad The casing is plastic. Do a search on here. The 4.3 and 2.8 are the same. Couple have a bit different plug in. Search key is your friend.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-27-2009, 09:51 AM	#7
dragonwingblazer Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 23 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: oil pressure sensor/sending unit going bad Quote: Originally Posted by Rustdaway The casing is plastic. Do a search on here. The 4.3 and 2.8 are the same. Couple have a bit different plug in. Search key is your friend. i got a decent price on a new one at o'rieleys yesterday so ill be putting it on later today. and actually it looks to be about 2/3rds plastic. i didnt realize the tiny gutless 2.8 was the same as a 4.3 on these. and im not a newbie to car forums i know about the search buttons, and i did try it though i probably must have missed an answer to this since you mentioned it sorry
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-27-2009, 11:28 AM	#8
Rebel_US Registered User Age: 48 Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 270 Location: Gulf Coast - AL User is: OffLine	Re: oil pressure sensor/sending unit going bad well, think of it this way: your working with alot lower pressures (50 tops?) than your bag system and dont have to deal with the 'hammer' affects of sudden pressure changes, well HOPFULLY dont have to ! And it's common for ALL parts to fail - why else would parts stores stock them? Your arguing about a couple of dollars worth of sensor. If it's broke replace it & move along in life. And I rather enjoy my 'tiny gutless 2.8' every time I pass a gas station, I would have especially after Katrina a few years back when I had to wait 2 hours to get gas for the car I had at the time and at 4 bucks a gallon. For a vehicle 23 years old, getting +30 MPG is rather sweet and I have enough left over after a fill up to get a 6 pack...causing the leaks mentioned in #3....
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-28-2009, 07:31 AM	#9
dragonwingblazer Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 23 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: oil pressure sensor/sending unit going bad Quote: Originally Posted by Rebel_US well, think of it this way: your working with alot lower pressures (50 tops?) than your bag system and dont have to deal with the 'hammer' affects of sudden pressure changes, well HOPFULLY dont have to ! And it's common for ALL parts to fail - why else would parts stores stock them? Your arguing about a couple of dollars worth of sensor. If it's broke replace it & move along in life. And I rather enjoy my 'tiny gutless 2.8' every time I pass a gas station, I would have especially after Katrina a few years back when I had to wait 2 hours to get gas for the car I had at the time and at 4 bucks a gallon. For a vehicle 23 years old, getting +30 MPG is rather sweet and I have enough left over after a fill up to get a 6 pack...causing the leaks mentioned in #3.... lol if it was a couple dollar part it wouldnt be that big of a deal but it turned out to be a $57 part, and that was the cheapest i found everybody else wanted $100 for the same part. gas milage is nice, but the lack of power sucks. the 3.8 n/a motor 05 grand prix gets mid 30's on the mpg's regularly and it will put you back in your seat and will smoke the tires in first and 2nd gear. but in all honesty i didnt buy the blazer to go fast anyways, i bought it because its a 4wd and because these old blazers got a good reputation for being tough old beasts once you work out the bugs. someday this old blazer will likely see a 350 in it, but that not until the 2.8 either costs too much to keep going or dies on me(which might be a long time since it now runs perfect and even has 0 smoke on startup)
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-28-2009, 12:10 PM	#10
Rhotpursuit Ticket Magnet Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 4,267 Location: Spanaway, Wa User is: OffLine	Re: oil pressure sensor/sending unit going bad http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,ca...,parttype,4588
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-28-2009, 12:29 PM	#11
Rebel_US Registered User Age: 48 Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 270 Location: Gulf Coast - AL User is: OffLine	Re: oil pressure sensor/sending unit going bad http://www.autozone.com/ search for OIL SWITCH dude - I see the switch alone for about 6 bucks...what did YOU buy ??
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-30-2009, 11:20 AM	#12
big gear head Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 303 Location: User is: Online	Re: oil pressure sensor/sending unit going bad If you have the oil pressure gauge instead of the light then it is a comon problem for them to leak. I've put about 5 of them on my truck in the last 13 years. I found that the cheap ones will start leaking in a year or less. I buy the Borg Warner senders and they last a lot longer. They cost a little more, but it's worth it when you can just barely get to the thing to change it. I also have a 4X4, and it's not easy to get to it. Last edited by big gear head : 06-30-2009 at 11:22 AM.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-30-2009, 01:10 PM	#13
Rebel_US Registered User Age: 48 Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 270 Location: Gulf Coast - AL User is: OffLine	Re: oil pressure sensor/sending unit going bad whoops - I just caught that, mine uses an IDIOT switch - yours might actually be a sending unit...my mistake.
	[Reply w/Quote]

07-01-2009, 04:26 PM	#14
dragonwingblazer Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 23 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: oil pressure sensor/sending unit going bad rhot none of those listed in the link you put up looked to be the right one, the one i have is a 3 blade connector gear head , yeah i have the guage on my dash not the idiot light. it probably would have helped if i mentioned i have a 88 blazer 4x4 and yes that is a major pita to swap out especially if the oil filter i just put on a month gets stuck on and i had to tear it up to even get it off!
	[Reply w/Quote]

07-09-2009, 12:46 PM	#15
Rustdaway Honor, Grace, and Dignity Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 344 Location: IL User is: OffLine	Re: oil pressure sensor/sending unit going bad Should be part number PS252 and it has 3 prongs. http://www.autozone.com/autozone/cat...uestid=2495152
	[Reply w/Quote]

07-10-2009, 12:21 AM	#16
KickerPower91 New Kid On The Block Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 18 Location: Salisbury, NC User is: OffLine	Re: oil pressure sensor/sending unit going bad My oil switch went bad in my 91 s-10, replaced it, all was well afterwards. was a pretty cheap part aswell.
	[Reply w/Quote]

07-11-2009, 09:22 AM	#17
dragonwingblazer Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 23 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: oil pressure sensor/sending unit going bad Quote: Originally Posted by Rustdaway Should be part number PS252 and it has 3 prongs. http://www.autozone.com/autozone/cat...uestid=2495152 if thats the right one then i dont what the hell they quoted me $105 for
	[Reply w/Quote]

07-11-2009, 12:48 PM	#18
Rustdaway Honor, Grace, and Dignity Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 344 Location: IL User is: OffLine	Re: oil pressure sensor/sending unit going bad Just typed in 88 blazer 4x4 with 2.8 L and thats what it came up with. Call the store with the part number and see what they want for it. Then verify it fits that vehicle. If you do it the other way around than it gives them the idea you dont know what you are talking about. Just say "Ok, and that fits an 88 blazer 4x4 with a 2.8?" Hope it helps.
	[Reply w/Quote]

07-15-2009, 09:49 AM	#19
dragonwingblazer Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 23 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: oil pressure sensor/sending unit going bad it probably didnt help when i was calling and asking for a sensor when it was technically a oil pressure switch. though that just proves that autozone and advanced are a bunch of idiots that know nothing about vehicles since the person i talked to at o-rieleys knew exactly what i was talking about with teh exact same description
	[Reply w/Quote]