Just wondering what the normal operating temperature and oil pressure should be for a 97 3800.

When warm, the temperaturechanges between 85-100 degrees celcuis.

Oil pressure usually sits around 415 (needle straight up) but has been a little lower lately, and as normal it drops off at an idle but never redlines.

Are these alright, I have searched but cannot find what is considered normal.

 

Temp sounds normal. My oil gauge stays in the middle when oil is cool. Then drops off a little as it warms up. Everything you said sounds normal. Though, I'm not quite sure what units 415 equal...

 

Alright thanks you. Oil pressure is measured in kPa, dont really know what that means, kilopascal?

 

Yes, that's what it means. Just not used to some of the metric units. Just looked it up, and 415 kPa is approximately 60 psi, which is what mine reads in the middle.

 

Metric...yeah I'm Canadian lol.

 

On my daughter's 96 the following is present:

Oil: about 1/4 way up.
Temp: about 240, drops a little during cruising.

Car runs fine.

Are these readings OK?

 

Is the oil pressure the same at idle as it is as cruising? Also, how far does the temperature drop during cruising?

 

02StanGT,

Thanks for replying. The oil pressure remains about the same, doesn't flunctate much. Just had that oil pressure switch replaced two days ago since the old one leaked oil badly. Temperature drops about 10-20 degrees when cruising. I'm going to look this over better tomorrow to see if the fan is working or not. I also may do a coolant flush/changout and thermostat chageout and check/replace hoses as necessary.

 

The oil pressure seems a little low doesnt it? Mine sits at 60 usually, and goes a little lower and a little lower, just depending on conditions, but not down to a 1/4..

 

A coolant system flush would be a good idea. That seems a little high for normal temperature. As for the oil pressure... When was the oil last changed? What exactly does the gauge read? Some read 0-40-80, while the others read 0-60-120.