i went out for a ride in my 65 coupe 289. when i got home i noticed the oil gauge was low, i checked the oil and it was fine, when i turned the car off i could hear fluid dripping down, is that normal, i have never heard that sound from my car. oil pump maybe? anyone know how to check it is works easily? thank you.

 

Let assure you that a more useless gauge has never graced the dashboard of an automobile. When the engine is running, it reads "normal." When the engine is off, it doesn't. That's the extent of its precision.
Of course, oil gauges should be bouncing all over the place. The pressure is different depending on engine temperature, engine speed, and amount of oil present. You'd never know it by watching the stock gauge. So don't rely on that gauge at all. The cure is to get a good gauge and sending unit. Try http://www.autometer.com
You hear oil dripping back into the oil pan. Nothing unusual about that.

 

any noises i would hear with a broken oil pickup? how would one know if it were broken?

 

Take your pan off and inspect your oil pump. While you are in there, you may as well just replace it. They aren't that expensive and could save your engine.

 

If the oil pressure was very low the engine would sound like it had a bunch of marbles in it, knocking , clicking, and stuff.
If it still sounds normal its probably okay, I have a mechanical oil pressure gauge in my mustang. It reads:

70lbs @ 180f (engine temp) @ 25 + mph

30lbs @ 180 @ 0 mph

85 lbs cold @ 25 mph

50 lbs cold @ 0 mph

Gun

 

If you are mechanically inclined I would replace it. Purchase a high volume pump and a new gauge. I remember when I was 18 and my oil pump gave up the ghost. I was at a red light in Brea, CA. I was always watching my gauges(get into the habbit) and seen my oil was on zero. I quickly whipped it into a gas staion on the corner. Had it towed home and replaced it with a high volume pump. No damage to the engine luckily.

 

Oh, you would know immediately if you had zero oil pressure. That engine would be clattering like you won't believe. Like I said.....get yourself a decent oil gauge so you know exactly what pressure you are running at all rpms.

 

You are right Soaring. If I remember correctly, my engine started to run like it was missing very badly. But, if the pressure has dropped like he said it is recommed that he replace it like you had mentioned. What the heck, it can't hurt anything.

 

True dat. I had to replace my oil pan because my son ran over a deer, and the animal rolled under the car taking out the muffler and most of the pipes as well as damaging the oil pan. Anyway, while I had the old pan off, I also replaced the oil pump. Which reminds me......I still haven't painted that damn pan black yet. It is still blue.

 

keep in mind the pump does not make pressure it povides volume the rod and main bearing are what made the pressure. if you have worn bearing replacing the pump with have little to no effect on the problem. If your going into the pan for the pump pull at least one main and rod caps and check the bearings