thats the oil psi im running at idle when my car gets around 190-200degrees.

my idle however is low at about 600rpms. i need to bump the idle up, but im just curious if 20 psi is bad?

 

20 is fine, even 15 is ok, when you get down to 10 you gotta begin to worry

 

that's what I'm running at at idle and fully warmed up

 

i would expect higher on a new motor idleing at 800RPM but only 600? hard to say again new.. my rebuild idled with around 45psi at 800...

1psi per 100RPMs... so 10psi @1000 20 @2000 are the BARE minimums i personaly would allow

but for a new motor that hasnt started to really wear in... the oil clearances arent going to get any smaller... so OP is only going to get worse..

who built it? what are the main and rod bearing clearances?

 

i had it professional built. i dont know the clearances, but i think its my idle. and my idle issue is because of the huge! cam

 

Good post and exactly right. 10 psi per 1000 rpm's.
Bearing clearances, and it sounds like yours are a little loose are it. As long as it stays above 15 at idle you should be fine. Thicker oil maybe? IDK...

My old motor (355 carbed) went down to 5 psi at idle, it was very loose. 9000 rpms all day long with no problem, that's one benefit but only if you have the parts that can take it. I didn't like seeing 5 psi but it still ran and never smoked. I miss that car.....

 

what oil did you put in it maybe you need thicker oil. Start up mine is pegged and when fully warmed up it never goes below 30 ever. Usually stays between 30-60

 

10-30 is what im using. i think its possibly my oil pump..

it however never and i mean never drops a hair below 20

 

no its not your oil pump you just need to use 10w40, thats what i use but you should be fine for now, as long as it doesnt drop under 20 i wouldnt be toooo worried about it but id still use the 10 40

 

Alright. ya i just thought use 10-30 on a new motor. 10-40 is what i always use to use

 

yeah id use 10w30 on a new motor if it thats what the manufacturer suggested. But since a shop built your motor they probably built it with looser clearances and based on your oil psi id say 10w40 would be an excellent choice. I broke mine in straight 30w for 45 minutes then changed to 10w40 and in 500 or so miles ill switch to synthetic 10w40