Oil filter making pressure go up???

[Propflux01]

Sounds like your sensor is taking a dump ( I assume it is an electric guage). Install a known good set-up to check.

 

[Schmoe]

Yeah, it's electric.

 

[Schmoe]

Drove all night from Oklahoma to Tennessee yesterday. Noticed that the oil pressure kept creeping up slowly after the first hour. After a couple of hours, the guage went from about 40 psi, which has been normal for this engine over the years, to well over 80 psi. I pulled over and felt the oil filter, it was hot, so I know oil is flowing through it. Background: I just recently did the AutoRX treatment, but didn't do the second quick flush since the oil looked pretty clean after running AutoRX for about 1500 miles. I was wondering is some the left over RX clogging my oil filter causing the pressure to go up somehow???? I'm not by any means dogging AutoRX, the engine runs better and the heads are a lot cleaner. I didn't follow the directions on the second flush, I felt that it didn't need it. Also, in the past, this oil pressure guage has been eratic at best. After about 100K miles, it has started "bouncing" back and forth all over the psi spread. After the AutoRX, the guage settled down and started working again. So that makes me wonder could it be guage, or filter??? I checked the engine, no new oil leaks, didn't use any oil for the 800 mile, 80 mph trek. Does any have similar problems? '90 Cutlass, V6, 175K miles. I think I'll go to Wallyworld and get a new filter and oil to change it out to be safe. However, I hate to waste the oil, have about 2K left to go before changing time.

 

[porterdog]

It would depend on where the pressure is measured. Imagine that you have a car with _two_ op gauges- one with the sensor after the pump but before the filter and one with the sensor after both the pump and filter. Install a restrictive filter- the first gauge will show higher pressure (because the filter is making the oil back up) and the second would show lower pressure (because not as much oil is getting through). Do you know where your sensor is?