What are some symptoms of low oil pressure? I have a tick (sounds like a lifter) from the passenger side of the motor, and my oil pressure is reading really low. The car runs strong, and sounds mean, but after it's been driven for a few minutes, the guage starts reading really low, it actually goes into the red markings! The ticking started after the oil was changed. What could be the cause of this ticking? Rocker arm? Lifter? Why would my pressure be reading so low? Bad sending unit? Like I said, the car runs well, but that ticking is pretty heavy. I really hope I don't need to rebuild this engine.

Ticking PLUS a low pressure reading is not good.

But to be sure, have someone with a good MANUAL pressure gauge take a reading at hot/cold idle, and at a couple grand.

IIRC, anything much below 20psi and you're probably looking at a rebuild. But, you never know - maybe you'll get lucky and it's just a screwed pump. Of course, if you keep running with low pressure, THEN you're looking a rebuild for sure!

Unfortunately the only way you can find out is to drop the pan, replace the pump... then fire it up and cross your fingers.

how long has it been running low? Is it just after you changed the oil?

You may want to verify the sending unit. I use some plastic tubing with fittings and a gauge and run it to where the sending unit is located and run the car and check the gauge until it reached operating temp.

engine temperature is a big factor as the oil gets hot your viscosity goes down as well as your oil pressure.

I think it's always read low... ever since I bought it. Speaking of hot... I do notice that whenever you turn the ignition key to Accesory, or start it, the engine fan starts running... I really hope it isn't serious!

Actually just thought of something last week hit a staiionary engine that had low oil pressure problem. Anyways my trouble shooting ked me to a defective regulation valve in the oil pump which I tested and found it to be cracking open to soon.

So in your case maybe you have a weak or broken spring or the valve is hung a bit open.

Here's the WOT to 60... I know, it's terrible... but that's what happens when you don't have an EFI dizzy on an EFI setup, I'll fix it this year. Looks like it's running around 20PSI (you can see right after launch)... that's what it runs at idle...

I am watching start ups of 305 TBI Camaro's and right on start up all of them are up to 40+psi oil pressure... mine is about 15-20... I really hope that guage is bad, or I'm selling this car...

don't let some of these guys spook you. You only need 10psi oil pressure per every 1000rpm the engine is turning. 15-20 is more than enough at idle. What is it at say 4000rpm? It should be somewhere above 30. If it's not double check it with a manual gage before you make any rash decisions about selling the car or saying the engine is junk.

My oil pressure drops almost to zero when the car is hot at idle. It increases when I give it gas, but at times when driving and I stop at a stop light it drops to almost zero. Does that mean I am looking at a rebuild?

How many miles on the motor? If it's ticking, I'd definitely figure out why, first do a manual oil press check. If it's low check the pump.Second figure out which side is ticking and pull the valve cover, look for a loose rocker, clogged or bent push rod, or bad lifter. There is no way of knowing until you get your pressure back up. If there is over 150k on the motor and you've been beating on it, it could just be a tired engine??? Need more info. Do the manual pressure check and go from there...

Engine has 160K. I can hear some metal ticking while driving on high rpms, when the car stands and I rev it up, engine sounds flawless. I recently put it new headers, before that the oil pressure would never dip below 15. I know they have nothing to do with it, but want to give all the facts.

Well you could be hearing the headers or they leak when on the gas? Retighten them especially on the passenger side where you hear the noise. Also tighten at the collector flanges.
160k is alot of mileage, I would do a manual oil pressure check ASAP, and go from there...

i got 148k on my LO3, 35 at idle at operating temp, 45 a cruise, 55 at WOT

you may want to try a heavier oil or some lucas and see if that brings the PSI up some

pop a valve cover off and see if there is alot of crud on top of the head if there is your pump screen could be clogged

there is many hot rodder tricks for flushing the oil system if this is the case along with shelf items at your parts house

I retightened the headers, they seem pretty tight. One more thing, while changing the headers I also had to change the tube for the dipstick. How do I check the oil pressure manually?

89RS- I started using castrol GTX synthetic oil. I used to use regular oil and some additive that brought the pressure up. But the car felt severely underpowered. But the oil pressure was much higher than it is now. When I changed from regular oil to GTX, the car felt alive again, very noticeble gains in torque. Under the valve covers there is a lot of black goo. How do I flush ?

One more thing, I know that my valve seals are crappy , car does smoke on startup... Also there is oil on spark plugs..

almost all chevys smoke at start up, i noticed that Mobile One and Engine Restore will cause it to smoke a little less at start up

but thats no proper research its just what i been running for years, running the Tall filter i need 5 1/2 - 5 3/4 qts of oil so i looked for something to make up the differance and picked up some Engine Restore and thats when i noticed the decrease in start up somke so i stick with it
i wind up with 4 qts of Mobil 1, 1qt Lucas and the can of Engine Restore (what a cluster f) but really it works well i have low to no blow by and super good vac readings for 148k ...its kinda pricy oil change but i dont care the motor is the heart of the car

header leaks have a real loud tick, i call them ticking time bombs i takes hearing a internal tick/knock and the leaky tick to really know the differance....i know it but i cant hear your car

if there is oil on your plugs than you are prob close to time for a rebuild, but try some Engine Restore, and clean the plugs about 200 miles after the Engine Restore, if the still get oily then yea somethings going to need rebuilding

as for flushing, you can put a can of sea foam in tha oil, and let the engine idle up to temp and run a while with it in there, then drain the oil

diesel fuel works good also about of qt or so of it and do the same thing as the sea foam

for a good idea of how to use the diesel fuel as a flush go to your parts house and look for engine flush (not cooling system flush) read the directions and just apply them to the diesel fuel, you can use the same amount of diesel as is in the engine flush can, all that is in the can is glorified diesel

you may have to di it a few oil changes to flush it

thanks!!!! i guess i have my work cut out for the next weekend. will try to flush. doubt it's the headers, cause the tick is not very loud. thanks again!

header leak can be very loud ........... ill see if i cant find a video of a header leak for ya

it may be burning rice but here is a header/manifold leak video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fE-kNuwcaQQ

Thanks a lot!!! Very helpful, not exactly that loud, but very similar in pitch. I guess I gotta tighten them more.

You may have to replace header gaskets, get the aluminum or copper ones. They are way better than those paper gaskets.
As far as checking pressure, you'll have to find someone or buy a gauge w/ an oil line and a sending unit that takes a line instead of electric. Your sending unit is in back of the motor next to the distributor on the drivers side.

Thanks, the gaskets I just put in are metallic, not sure , I think aluminum. I'll try tightening the bolts, if that dont work, I'll change the gaskets. The leak is very minor, and only at driving with high RPMs. As for the oil pressure, will buy the stuff before this weekend and try it out. Thanks again!

the vid i posted up for you is a pretty major leak

i had problems with a 454 blowing gaskets all the time, never went to the fancy one just using the replacement ones you get at a parts house, but anyway i dubble gasketed them and they never blew again

sometimes cheap headers aint machined perfect and may need a little help sealing, good expensive headers dont even need gaskets, i got gale banks headers on a 460 and the have no gaskets and are 100% leak free

just some food for thought

Oh yea

Aarons92.......sorry we highjacked your thred

you got your problem solved yet???