excessive oil pressure
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 428
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From: Edmonton, AB
Car: '87 Z-28
Engine: LT1-topped 400
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.42
excessive oil pressure
ok... before i start let me say i've searched the boards already, seems everyone else with this problem either has a brand-new (or freshly overhauled) engine, or heavily modified for performance - i don't fall into either category.
Just recently, I started noticing that my oil pressure was higher than normal... it would get close to 400kpa (about 60psi) at idle, and off the gauge while driving. it did this sort of off and on for the past few days. i thought it might be the sending unit until i drove out after leaving it run parked and saw the puddle of oil under my car. it seems the pressure got high enough to force quite a bit of oil out my rear main seal. i topped up the oil and drove it yesterday and today, there has not been any more oil leaking out since but the pressure is still at the top of the gauge. the engine has close to 325,000 km on it. i am running 10w30 oil, have been all year 'round, and have never seen the pressure this high... not even while warming up at -30. could there be a simple solution that i'm not seeing here, or am i gonna have to pull the thing out for overhaul?
Just recently, I started noticing that my oil pressure was higher than normal... it would get close to 400kpa (about 60psi) at idle, and off the gauge while driving. it did this sort of off and on for the past few days. i thought it might be the sending unit until i drove out after leaving it run parked and saw the puddle of oil under my car. it seems the pressure got high enough to force quite a bit of oil out my rear main seal. i topped up the oil and drove it yesterday and today, there has not been any more oil leaking out since but the pressure is still at the top of the gauge. the engine has close to 325,000 km on it. i am running 10w30 oil, have been all year 'round, and have never seen the pressure this high... not even while warming up at -30. could there be a simple solution that i'm not seeing here, or am i gonna have to pull the thing out for overhaul?
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Car: 1990 Trans AM GTA
Engine: 350
Transmission: 700r4
My car did exactly the same thing. Once it got warm it would idle at about 30 psi, on start-up and while driving around it would be at like 55, and sometimes it would get much higher. The car also leaked while driving. Haven't found the problem yet, but I ended up overheating my motor and melting at least 1 piston, so I'll try to find it now i guess.
Supreme Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,654
Likes: 2
From: Lower Salford, PA
Car: 1987 Camaro Z-28
Engine: 6.3L Victor EFI
Transmission: Tremec TKO 600
Axle/Gears: Moser 9"/4.11 Trac-Lok
The oil behind the rear main seal is not pressurized by the oil pump. I would suspect the gauge or sender is bad. Check it with known good mechanical gauge.
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 22
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From: Belleville, Ontario, Canada
Car: 1991 Pontiac Trans Am
Engine: LB9 305 V8
Transmission: THM 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73 Limited Slip
ok I'm resurrecting this thread because I think I may have the same problem.
The engine seems to run fine, but the Oil Pressure guage is sitting at 300-320 KPA on idle and when the engine is revved it tops out past 420. I also notice that the needle quivers at times and jumps others.
Does anyone think it may be just the sender ?
The engine seems to run fine, but the Oil Pressure guage is sitting at 300-320 KPA on idle and when the engine is revved it tops out past 420. I also notice that the needle quivers at times and jumps others.
Does anyone think it may be just the sender ?
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