I just built a 406. It has a melling high volume pump, Moroso pan and a Summit installed pickup. On cold start-up at idle, oil pressure is about 50 psi. It warms up, and oil pressure is about 13 psi at idle. At 3000 oil pressure is about 45-50 psi, and is satisfactory at all other RPM's above 1000. The gauge is an Autometer phantom electric.

Is this acceptable oil pressure, or does anyone suspect a problem. Please post questions, comments, personal experiences.

 

you'll find differant answers from differant sources, but 10 psi per 1000 rpm is suspose to be accteptable. however if it were me i'd be a bit concerened on a new engine. are you using a mechanical gauge or trusting the factory gauges? i'd screw a mechanical gauge in the block and see what i have for sure and not trust factory gauges

 

I think the autometer electric gauge is pretty accurate, wouldn't you. I do not own an F-body, so I do not have the stock electric gauges.

 

I heard bad about them.

Screw in a mech... oil press gauge.

Its easy to tap onto the side of the block/the intake and they are accurate

 

Is your engine set up very loose? Your cold start oil pressure seems low to me. My oil pressure cold is 80. At idle when warm is drops to 25-30. Crusing is always above 40...

I am using a Melling, probably the same one as you...

BTW, I use an Auto Meter Pro Comp mech. gauge...

 

older 400s only ran 5-8 psi at an idle, yoll be fine as long as your oil pressure goes up with the rpms, so you are actually better then expected