1987 iroc, 5.7 tpi, auto

Is there such a thing as too much oil pressure ? When I start up cold, the oil pressure gauge is pinned at the top. As the engine warms, the oil pressure comes down when idling, and rises as rpm increases. The oil pressure is lowest (not in red zone on gauge) when engine is fully warmed up and idling.

Is this normal ? Is there any danger of blowing seals, etc, with the high pressure ?

 

Kelowna? Cool, that's a sharp looking car you've got there. I'm from Vernon actually.

No, you have nothing to worry about, that's completely normal. You have a high pressure spring which bypasses at about 60psi in the pump, so it won't go higher than that. 15psi at idle is fine, you'll probably have about that.

 

on cold starts, the oil is thick, like honey(not literally) and that makes it hard to pump which shows up as a high pressure.. as it warms up, the oil thins to water(again not literally) and makes it easier to pump through the motor..

heres an example.. try squeezing a tube of toothpaste.. it takes a bit of pressure to get something out.. pressure.. now imagine you replace the toothpaste with water.. you dont really need to use any pressure to get something out of the tube.. hence the lower pressure when thin..