Oil Pressure Dropping as Revs rise

[petepetrolhead]

I think my Griff has only just started doing this - I'm sure I would have noticed if it had done it before...

When cruising at 2,000 to 3,000 rpm the oil pressure is normal (around 40 psi on the gauge). However if I accelerate fairly hard, the pressure starts dropping - the higher the revs, the lower the gauge reads - it actually drops near enough to zero at 6,000 rpm - eek!. The same thing happens when I rev the engine in neutral, so it doesn't appear to be anything to do with the engine being under load.

There are no nasty rattles to indicate anything being starved of oil, but I'm now only driving very gently as a precaution, and the pressure stays between 30 and 40 psi. I've done the obvious and checked the oil level - which is fine.

Has anyone encountered this before? Is it perhaps a pick-up problem - can the pick-up pipe come loose or get blocked (there shouldn't be any crap in the engine as the oil is changed regularly - unless a chunk of skirt has dropped off a piston (God no - don't say that!!). I've heard it might be possible for air to be pulled in if any of the timing cover bolts aren't tight - is that possible??

It would be nice to think it was a faulty sender, but somehow I don't think so...

Anyone come across this before?

[5.0ltr]

Had the same recently, reviewed the symptoms whilst driving and not having the red light come on decided it was the pressure sender, on checking it the spade end was loose, after crimping it tighter problem, thankfully, solved.

[WinstonWolf]

I've seen the cork gasket fail and some of it end up in the pickup. Could be worth dropping the sump to check?

[petepetrolhead]

Thanks chaps - I'll give the sender and connections a good once-over then, If that doesn't fix the issue, I'll drop the sump to try and see what's going on...

[Stew Mc]

My oil pick up pipe came loose. Oil pressure fine until a rather spirited drive on the Autobahn. If not electrical/sender related, worth checking.