I am thinking that maybe the reason why my car acts the way it does is because of the oil pressure.

When it first start up it sits at about 40 psi, then as the car heats up, it drops below 30 psi and stays right at the first tick after the red ticks.

I change my oil on time every time, I dunno if this is good or bad. I also use the high mileage oil 10W30...

 

That's where mine sits. I believe that's the appropriate level when the car is at idle.

 

Most GM smallblocks are spec'd at about 18 psi at idle + or -. I don't put a lot of faith in factory gauges, so if you have access to a decent calibrated gauge, plug it in and see what it's really reading, then check your dash gauge at the same rpm, then you can figure out about where your dash gauge reads re: a calibrated one.

Tim sends

 

my gw 350 stays at 50.

 

I use a 20-50 multi weight oil(for highmileage)
they're about 3.5bux a quart,
and i add 2quarts of Lucas Oil Stabilizer..

my car has almost 190k mileage on it,
when I used to use 10-30 regular oil,
my psi would sit 20 or lower on hot idle.

now with the oil stabilizer and the thicker oil i use,
I get 30+ at hot idle,
now i added a universal engine oil cooler hooked up..
it stays at 40psi at hot idle.

 

My gauge reads 0 idling in gear hot, 10-30 oil. It never makes any noise and is coming out soon anyway, its 165,000 miles old, I would'nt worry about it.

 

10psi per 1000RPM is kindof the general rule of thumb.

For pressure to drop at idle or low RPM is normal.

My old motor would drop into the red at idle. The new motor has never dropped below half on the gauge.

New motor now runs castrol full syn 10w30

 

Idle 35psi
1200+ 47psi

15-40 rotella