Hey, my 89 Firebird is running normal, roughly 700 RPMs at idle, but it shows my Oil pressure to be about 340 Kpa. It might be the gauge, but something is definatly wrong if it's not. When I start going, the oil pressure goes up to places in the 500's... Should I switch to a lower weight oil, I'm currently running 10W30, with some stop leak in it, because of my toasted rear main seal spraying oil all over my clutch...

 

I would love to have 50 psi of oil pressure, but Im going to agree (to add to it, you have a 2.8) that your gauge is probably reading high (you didn't happen to swap in a oil guage from a Formula or TA did you with numbers instead of the "ok or not ok" gauge?)

 

our v6's run oil pressure that higher than the v8s. i dont know the conversion for psi to kpa, but my gauge tops out at 80 and its usually hanging out near there when im driving around. and our gauges arent exactly accurate so, IMO, i wouldnt be worried about it.

 

It must be the gauge, but I really noticed it on hot days sitting in traffic. Should I go to a 5W30?

 

If anyting got to 10w40 for hotter circumstances. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but the first number on the oil is it's defense against cold (lower numbers mean less cold resistance) and the second number is the heat. Here in Florida we can run straight weight oil most of the time (ie 30w), with only a few cold days in the winter (50* or so). I use 10w30 only because I can get it in the 5.5 quart jugs.