L260 oil pressure

[dpaulg]

On my L260 at cold start the oil pressure at the plug on the oil filter which is right where the oil enters the passage to oil the engine reads 60 psi but the pressure at the oil sender tap is only 40 psi. After the oil warms up the pressure at the filter drops to 40 psi and the pressure at oil tap reads 23 psi. After more time the filter pressure drops to 30 psi and the oil tap drops below 20 psi and theoil light starts to flash. Some questions. What would make the oil tap pressure lower than at the filter? Can a passage be blocked? Wouldnt a leak anywhere show the same psi at both locations? Why the difference? Why does my oil pressure keep dropping?
I also found a lot of paper thin pieces of metal in the oil pan , some up to about 1/2 inch square.
Thanks for any help.

 

[Diydave]

On my L260 at cold start the oil pressure at the plug on the oil filter which is right where the oil enters the passage to oil the engine reads 60 psi but the pressure at the oil sender tap is only 40 psi. After the oil warms up the pressure at the filter drops to 40 psi and the pressure at oil tap reads 23 psi. After more time the filter pressure drops to 30 psi and the oil tap drops below 20 psi and theoil light starts to flash. Some questions. What would make the oil tap pressure lower than at the filter? Can a passage be blocked? Wouldnt a leak anywhere show the same psi at both locations? Why the difference? Why does my oil pressure keep dropping?
I also found a lot of paper thin pieces of metal in the oil pan , some up to about 1/2 inch square.
Thanks for any help.

This particular problem shows up, in L-185's a lot, not sure if it happens in your model.

Pop the valve cover off, and check the cam plug, to see if it is leaking, and or, drop the oil pan, and first check the screen to see if it is clogged, if not, it may be brittle o-rings in the suction pipe...

 

[Kmo]

From the Owner's Manual--
"Oil light s lighted up at a pressure under 21.3 psi"
"no trouble if the lamp should light up when the engine is turning at low speed"

 

[Tooljunkie]

paper thin pieces of metal? Like from a foil cap on an oil container or more like bearing material that has peeled off a crank or cam bearing?
That of course would likely cause a knock in the engine.
You used same guage at both pressure ports so you eliminated the possibility of a bad sensor?
As oil passes through block its bled off to lubricate various components,and sensor is likely at end of line where pressure would be at its lowest.