2012 3.6L Oil Pressure
 

When my hubby was changing my spark plugs he found one that was oil covered. He suspected a leaking gasket and seals so he changed the gasket. Now the oil pressure is pinned at 70 psi on start up and stays pinned for a good 20 minutes of driving, then fluctuates radically from 0 to 70. He then replaced the oil pressure sender with a genuine GM part and no change. I understand normal fluctuation between 25 - 60 for this model (correct me if I'm wrong) which is how it was before the new gasket. He thinks it is okay, I don't trust it. Also had an oil change just before the repair and then didn't drive it until the repair was done. I'm thinking that the wrong oil or filter was installed. I don't have the receipt so I can't verify that and I didn't really pay attention to the oil pressure after the oil change. What would be the best next step to resolve the high pressure issue? We haven't tested it with a manual pressure gauge yet. Should I go for a new oil change first to rule that out? It also spawned the check engine light which I'm believing is from the 70 psi and can't find our code reader at the moment.

what gasket was changed? I would suspect the oil change, possibly wrong oil or oil filter. also was this done at a gm dealership or local quick change place?

He replaced the valve cover gasket and spark plug tube seals. It has an LFX engine. He did some more research and found 2 GM service bulletins PIP4690D and PIP4690E that state that this is "Normal". Interesting that it didn't do it before though. I park it over the winter. The oil was changed before it got parked, probably back in November by my husband and he just did the gaskets to get it ready to drive again this Spring. He's a good mechanic and knows he has to service it by the book. I'm pretty adamant about that. It's been garage kept and looks like new inside and out. Still has the new car smell, for real, no fake spray scent stuff. He may have been given an incorrect oil filter though at the local auto parts store. Ya just don't know sometimes. He will probably do a new oil filter. He found his diagnostic scanner today, so he'll be checking the codes in a day or two. I'm not so alarmed after reading the service bulletins now.

wow normal,,, I would freak out too. wonder if air gets in them lifters and messes with the oil pressure. sounds like you got it under control. welcome to the forum by the way.

If GM would have put a gauge that read like 200 psi and put a "Red" danger zone on it, very few would question it or panic like I did. Thanks for the welcome. :0) I often come here and read but never post. Get lots of good information here.