Low Oil Pressure

[VWrabbit317]

1982 Rabbit Pickup with a 1.9D (1Y) engine. I purchased the truck already swapped. The timing belt was extremely tight. Turns out the tensioner was seized up. Not sure how long the truck was driven this way but I can imagine that would put a lot of stress on the IM shaft bearings. I changed the oil and filter when I bought it. Currently running Rotella 15w40

With the engine at operating temp I'm seeing about 60psi while crusing at 60mph. I don't have a tac hooked up so I can't say what the RPMs are. While at idle it sits at only about 14-15psi and that's when the oil light comes on. This is all being measured at the oil filter flange. I know VW spec is 29psi so it's well below that. From what I've read and the couple people i've talked to, it sounds like I may need to replace my intermediate shaft bearings. So i'm just looking for one last opinion before pulling the motor out and messing with changing out the IM bearings. Is there anything else it could be?

[fatmobile]

It's supposed to be at 29psi at idle?
 Who told you that, ha.
 Your oil pressure sounds fine.
You'll be fine with over 7psi at idle.

 If you want to test some stuff.
 Turning the oil pump with a drill while watching how it flows around the cam is a nice trick.
There is a 6 point socket that fits the oil pump blade nice.
 If you see it flowing then there is too much clearance in the cam.

Just looked at the manual and the 29psi is supposed to be at 2000RPM.
That's what the switch on the oil filter measures.
 The dynamic oil pressure above 2000 RPM.

The one on the head measure oil pressure at idle.

[VWrabbit317]

AH, I most definitely overlooked the "at 2000rpm" part. So if the oil light is coming on at idle after it's warmed up then maybe it's just a faulty sensor at the head?

[fatmobile]

Probably.