oil pressure Q?
#1
oil pressure Q?
I see recently it is noticed it has dropped a bit when fully warmed at coolant temp of 200F. At 650 rpms I see around 17-19 lbs and at 900 rpms it increases to about 25. Steady cruise it seems normal. I notice nothing out of the ordinary as far as engine noise but it was always very smooth/quite with roller rockers.
#2
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Astoria, N.Y.
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1986 Z28 Camaro, 2002 Audi A4 (DD)
Engine: 350 .30 over w/bang for buck combo
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: stock for now
Re: oil pressure Q?
thats pretty normal.. when my car is warmed up totally my oil pressure drops to 15psi.. then at cruising its at 25.. i wouldn't worry bout it.. if it drops below10psi then i'd look at it and check your oil pump
#4
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1992 FIREBIRD
Engine: 305
Transmission: 700R4
Re: oil pressure Q?
I notice that on my firebird I have the same problem but mine drops all the way to zero when stoped but there is no rough riding or noise. do u thing i should check the pump first or the sensor and if its the pump is there a ezyer way to get to it then pulling the engine.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Manchester, CT + Nashua, NH
Posts: 1,461
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 90 Firebird Formula
Engine: LO3
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.08 one wheel peel
Re: oil pressure Q?
IDK why, but it seems to me that all these cars have very low oil pressure! Almost like GM messed up on something.
I change oil on alot of cars at work, and watch the oil pressure guages. Let me say, that most GM SBC V8 and the 4.3 V6 trucks, they all get at least 40psi, fully warm, and with crap 5w30 oil. Give them a little rev and it will jump even higher too!
My car keeps decent oil pressure now though. It will only drop down to the 15-20 range when I let it get close to 220* in traffic. But, once it gets that hot the oil pressure stays low even if I get some speed up and the coolant goes back down to 180*.
I was getting the same pressures as you, I ran castrol GTX 10w30. It got a little better when I switched to Rotella 15w40. I ran 3 oil changes of the rotella and it worked good. Then, just recently, autozone had a deal on 5qts of Mobil1 oil and a M1 filter for $28. I got that, but I got the 5w40 turbo-diesel truck oil, and the M1 filter for a V8 chevy van (equivalent to an ACdelco 1218).
So far, the M1 diesel truck oil has been great. I only bought it for the viscosity spread, 5w40 is perfect. It actually keeps the pressure above 30psi at idle, all the way from cold up to hot. There is only a very small area right around 180* where it goes down to 30psi, and then increases again as I get warmer.
As long as you keep moving, it will stay full pressure for a long time. Even at a hot temp, I will be pushing near 40psi cruising. It only dips down when I sit in traffic and let the oil get super hot.
I change oil on alot of cars at work, and watch the oil pressure guages. Let me say, that most GM SBC V8 and the 4.3 V6 trucks, they all get at least 40psi, fully warm, and with crap 5w30 oil. Give them a little rev and it will jump even higher too!
My car keeps decent oil pressure now though. It will only drop down to the 15-20 range when I let it get close to 220* in traffic. But, once it gets that hot the oil pressure stays low even if I get some speed up and the coolant goes back down to 180*.
I was getting the same pressures as you, I ran castrol GTX 10w30. It got a little better when I switched to Rotella 15w40. I ran 3 oil changes of the rotella and it worked good. Then, just recently, autozone had a deal on 5qts of Mobil1 oil and a M1 filter for $28. I got that, but I got the 5w40 turbo-diesel truck oil, and the M1 filter for a V8 chevy van (equivalent to an ACdelco 1218).
So far, the M1 diesel truck oil has been great. I only bought it for the viscosity spread, 5w40 is perfect. It actually keeps the pressure above 30psi at idle, all the way from cold up to hot. There is only a very small area right around 180* where it goes down to 30psi, and then increases again as I get warmer.
As long as you keep moving, it will stay full pressure for a long time. Even at a hot temp, I will be pushing near 40psi cruising. It only dips down when I sit in traffic and let the oil get super hot.
#6
Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Fullerton,CA
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 82 Camaro Z28
Engine: 305 Crossfire
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3:23
Re: oil pressure Q?
IDK why, but it seems to me that all these cars have very low oil pressure! Almost like GM messed up on something.
I change oil on alot of cars at work, and watch the oil pressure guages. Let me say, that most GM SBC V8 and the 4.3 V6 trucks, they all get at least 40psi, fully warm, and with crap 5w30 oil. Give them a little rev and it will jump even higher too!
My car keeps decent oil pressure now though. It will only drop down to the 15-20 range when I let it get close to 220* in traffic. But, once it gets that hot the oil pressure stays low even if I get some speed up and the coolant goes back down to 180*.
I was getting the same pressures as you, I ran castrol GTX 10w30. It got a little better when I switched to Rotella 15w40. I ran 3 oil changes of the rotella and it worked good. Then, just recently, autozone had a deal on 5qts of Mobil1 oil and a M1 filter for $28. I got that, but I got the 5w40 turbo-diesel truck oil, and the M1 filter for a V8 chevy van (equivalent to an ACdelco 1218).
So far, the M1 diesel truck oil has been great. I only bought it for the viscosity spread, 5w40 is perfect. It actually keeps the pressure above 30psi at idle, all the way from cold up to hot. There is only a very small area right around 180* where it goes down to 30psi, and then increases again as I get warmer.
As long as you keep moving, it will stay full pressure for a long time. Even at a hot temp, I will be pushing near 40psi cruising. It only dips down when I sit in traffic and let the oil get super hot.
I change oil on alot of cars at work, and watch the oil pressure guages. Let me say, that most GM SBC V8 and the 4.3 V6 trucks, they all get at least 40psi, fully warm, and with crap 5w30 oil. Give them a little rev and it will jump even higher too!
My car keeps decent oil pressure now though. It will only drop down to the 15-20 range when I let it get close to 220* in traffic. But, once it gets that hot the oil pressure stays low even if I get some speed up and the coolant goes back down to 180*.
I was getting the same pressures as you, I ran castrol GTX 10w30. It got a little better when I switched to Rotella 15w40. I ran 3 oil changes of the rotella and it worked good. Then, just recently, autozone had a deal on 5qts of Mobil1 oil and a M1 filter for $28. I got that, but I got the 5w40 turbo-diesel truck oil, and the M1 filter for a V8 chevy van (equivalent to an ACdelco 1218).
So far, the M1 diesel truck oil has been great. I only bought it for the viscosity spread, 5w40 is perfect. It actually keeps the pressure above 30psi at idle, all the way from cold up to hot. There is only a very small area right around 180* where it goes down to 30psi, and then increases again as I get warmer.
As long as you keep moving, it will stay full pressure for a long time. Even at a hot temp, I will be pushing near 40psi cruising. It only dips down when I sit in traffic and let the oil get super hot.
#7
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: So. Cal
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1991 Pontiac Firebird
Engine: 5.0L TBI
Re: oil pressure Q?
I get about 15-18psi at idle when in traffic in this crazy California heat. At cruising speed it goes up to about 35psi. This is with Castrol GTX 5w-30.
I was always kind of worried about where my oil pressure sat at idle, but I talked to a few thirdgen enthusiasts and they all said it was pretty normal.
I was always kind of worried about where my oil pressure sat at idle, but I talked to a few thirdgen enthusiasts and they all said it was pretty normal.
Trending Topics
#8
Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Fullerton,CA
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 82 Camaro Z28
Engine: 305 Crossfire
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3:23
Re: oil pressure Q?
I get about 15-18psi at idle when in traffic in this crazy California heat. At cruising speed it goes up to about 35psi. This is with Castrol GTX 5w-30.
I was always kind of worried about where my oil pressure sat at idle, but I talked to a few thirdgen enthusiasts and they all said it was pretty normal.
I was always kind of worried about where my oil pressure sat at idle, but I talked to a few thirdgen enthusiasts and they all said it was pretty normal.
#9
Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: SE PA.
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 92RS
Engine: 305
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: oil pressure Q?
#10
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: ms. gulf coast
Posts: 2,403
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
Car: 91 R/S , 89 dodge p/u
Engine: L31 GM crate re-cammed , 318
Transmission: T-5 , 4 speed auto
Axle/Gears: 3.42 , ?
Re: oil pressure Q?
if its running fine change the sensor first . keep in mind even a new sensor is not the most accurate . be careful of brittle plastic connectors . oil press. is good to a point , flow is most important . too much oil press. on a street built eng. is not good . ( i said too much oil press. ) think , how does an auto tranny get its friction to move car ? it gets it from oil press. to the discs/plates . tranny fluid also is much thinner than motor oil . at too much press. oil causes friction instead of eliminating it . i'm sure my comments will bring a lot of nay sayers , but think again about auto trannys and how they work . also too much press. on a street engine will start blowing seals/gaskets . good luck .
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post