hey all

89T/A, built 355.
At hot idle, the oil is only at 18psi. It jumps up when I hit the gas, and if I floor it, it will hit up to 60psi.
But 18psi at idle seems a bit low to me.
the motor only has about 2500miles on it.

what do yall think?

 

What kind of oil pump do you have?
I have a melling high volume on my 305 and it is always at least 60 according to my guage. 18 is low but this also depends on what weight of oil you run.

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84 Z28 L69. 5 speed with 3.73 posi (broken)Ported heads, intake, 10:1 comp. 230/230 .480 lift cam @.050"

 

I think the pump is a melling, but it is not high volume or high pressure.
I usually run 10-30 weight oil...

when the engine is cold, the oil is usually at 50psi, but goes down when warm.

 

Mine drops to a hair above 0psi when it warms up... as long as it rises when you rev, you'll be OK.

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1984 z28 w/ a 357 cu in. monster engine which is looking like the posterchild for Edelbrock with the exception of the Holley 750vac... all the suspension stuff... 9-bolt posi disk is in...

-=ICON Motorsports=-

 

I would have thought it too low. Mine always around 60 to 75 psi.

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84 Trans Am HO L69 WS6
5 Speed manual
Vortech Cherrybomb no cat
JR Headers
Comp Cams XE262H-10
Removed all emisions except EGR and Charcoal Canister system
Removed Hdflap and gutted aircleaner
H/made tri cld air induction
K&N
Underdrive pulleys
All power options but removed AC and Cruise
Currently painting

 

10PSI per 1000 RPM is supposed to be minimum,but 18 at idle does seem a little low for a fairly fresh motor.Is this reading off a mechanical gauge?My 225,000 mile stock TBI 305 idled at 26 PSI. This motor had never had the pan or heads off it, and ran synthetic 15W-50 oil.What's the water temperature?I picked up about 5 PSI of oil pressure after installing a 180 deg thermostat and cooling fans that come on at 190.
A high volume pump is usually not worth the power it robs on a mild motor, and even racers I know say they use a stock low-volume pump,just install the higher pressure spring in it,and blueprint the pump.
Were the clearances checked properly when the motor went together?Even Plastigage is better than not checking at all.Hell, Plastigage is usually all i check 'em with, but if you've got big clearances,a high volume pump is just a band-aid.
-Rich-

 

The motor usually runs a constant 210 degrees...i know its hot! I dont know why though, new t-stat, new water pump, radiator, etc.etc.
the gauge is mechanical.

 

210 is a good temp. It sounds like your clearances are just to large. If you change to heavier oil, and the pressure goes up, that's what it is. Is your sender new? It could be clogged, and not working perfectly.

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'82 Firebird, dead stock, 9 bolt disc rear, over 200,000 miles and still going strong, more to come...
http://www.spinfrenzy.com/stingerssx...easures.html#4