Oil pressure I have good oil pressure but once it warms up the gauge clicks clicks clicks fluctuating, then it bottoms out. Engine still sounds strong, with maybe a little tapping when oil pressure is bottomed out. replaced sending unit, hooked external gauge and it is showing low to no oil pressure, had it in 2 shops, one couldnt figure it out other just wants to replace with a new engine at a cost of 6000.00 plus. two shade trees told me to change oil pump, a third says to check the pan for a oil intake valve and replace it on the oil pump. Is this probable & possible?

Suggest you find a garage/auto repair who will remove the oil pressure sending unit on the motor and insert a oil pressure gauge and read the pressure.
Sounds like you have either a bad sending unit or maybe a plugged up oil filter. You are changing your motor oil every several thousand miles, right?
Be blessed.

Well it could be the sending unit for the gauge.
But odds are the oil pump or engine bearings are worn out.
As the engine warms up, the metal spaces expand and the oil gets thinner. The oil pressure drops some under normal conditions, but not more than 10 or 15psi. Normal idle pressure with the engine warmed up is probably 25psi.
You could check oil pressure with a mechanical gauge to make sure its not the sending unit.
Once the oil pressure starts staying below 20psi for long periods you'll start hearing noises.

Hi there:
It sounds like it could be oil pressure sending unit. I would check the connection on the sending unit. Below are the procedures for checking the sending unit, If it checks out good I would have a mechanical gauge set up to measure the pressure.

TESTINGTo test the normally closed oil lamp circuit, disengage the locking connector and measure the resistance between the switch terminal (terminal for the wire to the warning lamp) and the metal housing. The ohmmeter should read 0 ohms.To test the sending unit, measure the resistance between the sending unit terminal and the metal housing. The ohmmeter should read an open circuit (infinite resistance).Start the engine.Once again, test each terminal against the metal housing:The oil switch terminal-to-housing circuit should read an open circuit if there is oil pressure present.The sending unit-to-housing circuit should read between 15-80 ohms, depending on the engine speed, oil temperature and oil viscosity.To test the oil pressure sender only, rev the engine and watch the ohms reading, which should fluctuate slightly (within the range of 15-80 ohms) as rpm increases.If the above results were not obtained, replace the sending unit/switch with a new one.

Hope helps.

The oil would thin out and could show lower pressure when its warmed. The sender for the gauge could also be bad.

Sounds to me like it could be a bad oil sending unit or gauge. I would take it in to a shop and have them test the oil pressure with their equipment.
If they tell you the pressure is good try changing the oil sending unit first then if that don't work, replace the gauge.

Sounds like it could be the oil pressure sending unit. I believe it's at the back of the intake manifold, on the driver side.

You'll need to determine if the oil pressure is actually changing, or if the sending unit or gauge is lying to you. Be certain the oil level is up to normal, then check the actual oil pressure with a test gauge. If the pressure varies (drops) at engine idle, perhaps your pressure bypass is defective, or perhaps the oil pump is worn. Testing with a known good pressure gauge should lead you in the right direction.

In some cases where the oil is not changed properly, the oil pump screen maybe plugging or your oil filter is defective. Fram is a good filter. If there is no problem found, replace the pressure sensor.

could be that the screen in the oil pan where the oil is taken up is clogged. not certain--maybe oil change?

The oil pressure sending unit is a sensor with an internal diaphragm, if the internal diaphragm is damaged , or the line to the diaphragm is blocked you can get this kind of fluctuation on the oil pressure gauge.

The oil pressure value must be read by installing a mechanical gauge near to the oil pressure switch and checking the pressure.

If pressure is ok, replace the sending unit. If there is a real pressure drop, check the oil pump.

If you still get fluctualtion after replacing the oil pressure sending unit, replace the oil pressure gauge.