Bj70 3B oil pressure crashing

[Burbot]

Here's the facts. 2200 rpm/100 km/ hr for about 40 km. Pressure reading low but not alarming. Looked back min later and the needle had dropped outa sight!pulled over checked oil. No prob level up smelled like oil no smoke steam noise. Restarted the 3B perfect no clacking knocking no valve noise. Gauge registers nada. Continue driving all good. Stopped n parked 20 km later. No press but runs perfect. Wtf? Let it cool looked underneath. leaking could be front seal hard to tell. Restarted it showed pres low as usual place on gauge. Pres dropped off the chart again five minutes down hiway on way home. Does this truck have a lo pres shutoff like my 82 bj60? Any thots? I've booked a mechanic to check pres check sender,wires what else ?vehicle is new to the family so haven't run it much and am only discovering issues. Thanks

 

[colby1979]

The factory gauges are notoriously unaccurate and yes, there should be a a low oil pressure shut off. Your best bet if the pressure checks out fine is to have your mechanic (or you) install an aftermarket pressure gauge and I would also install a water temp gauge at the same time.

 

[Burbot]

I ran into this with another 3b but it's reassuring to here your opinion. I guess I'm going after market. As this was a maiden voyage I was a tad alarmed to say the least. I'd rather fix the stock one though.

 

[jblueridge]

I plumbed in a tee fitting to allow for a mechanical oil pressure gauge as well as the original.
Female threads in the block are BSPT.

 

[colby1979]

I had an bj70 and it had the same issue, would read a 1/4 cold and go down to an 1/8 once it warmed up.

 

[Burbot]

Changed filter n filled it wit 30 wt. Sender was loose to so cleaned it up. Now at least the gauge doesn't drop randomly. Pressure reads same as my other 3bs. Low but not alarming. Ready for it's first lake trip.