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Low Oil Pressure

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Old Jan 3, 2002 | 12:49 AM
  #1  
BigMike 92 Z28's Avatar
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From: San Ramon Ca
Low Oil Pressure

I noticed latly that my in dash oil pressure gauge is lower than my brothers is ( has a new 305 in a 85 Firebird ). Usually when I am driving it reads about 30( in the middle ) maybe a little more but sometimes At Idle it drops down to top of red and even a ways into red. I now this cant be good. I have 100k on the motor- think its finally time for a rebuild or do you guys think its something else. Also it runs very strong still.
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Old Jan 3, 2002 | 09:28 AM
  #2  
jcb999's Avatar
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From: College Station, Tex USA
Car: 89rs
Engine: 400Sb
Transmission: Tremec 3550
small blocks often have low op at idle

Even new ones. Rod side clearance has a lot to do with it. If it comes up as soon as you touch the gas I would not worry about it.

10psi at idle is sufficent in most cases. You might get some rockers making noise but thats about it.
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Old Jan 3, 2002 | 05:28 PM
  #3  
BigMike 92 Z28's Avatar
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From: San Ramon Ca
cool- thanks
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Old Jan 3, 2002 | 09:38 PM
  #4  
82camaro's Avatar
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From: NE
Car: 82 camaro SC
Engine: 350
Transmission: 700r4
Stock guages are prone to not being very accurate. If you are concerned, check it with a mechanical guage. I agree with what he said above 10 psi at idle and 10 psi for every 1000 rpm after that is plenty.
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Old Jan 4, 2002 | 02:29 PM
  #5  
BigRuss's Avatar
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Oil pressure started to drop in mine like that just before the bearings went out on cylinder six. If you start hearing a slight knocking noise at idle and the oil pressure drops with every knock, you know your bearings have had it; clearance is getting too large from excessive wear. I owned mine for a little over a week before this happened. And I made the previous owner help me rebuild the dam thing...
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Old Jan 4, 2002 | 05:29 PM
  #6  
ede's Avatar
ede
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From: Jackson County
if you want to be sure put a mechanical gauge on and check it. 10 psi for every 1000 rpm is accepted as "normal".
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Old Jan 8, 2002 | 03:57 AM
  #7  
1990IROC-Z's Avatar
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From: Hawaii
I had the same problem unitl recently; I suspected it wasn't my pressure when it started dropping down to about 0 at idle in gear. I changed the oil pressure sending unit and now my pressure looks where it should. Didn't get to double check it with a mechanical which I really want to do to see how the stock gauge fairs in the accuracy department.
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