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#1
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Oil Pressure WNL?
Had been flying on idiot lights thus far but now I have a gauge set for temp, volts and oil pressure. First ride today with the gauges.
Oil pressure started out around 55 psi then with the engine warmed up to 190 the oil pressure at idle would drop to 20 psi. Still 40 - 45 psi above idle. Is this OK? I know nothing about the engine history except that it's an early 70s YT block with 6X heads. Had the valve covers off yesterday and it looks pretty clean up top anyway.
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Mark Las Cruces NM ___________________________ Current Project: '67 Catalina Convertible 400 4-spd |
#2
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Sounds about right for a stocker.
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#3
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Your fine with hot PSI numbers like that. So sleep well at night and fear not when your foot is on the floor mat!
I once had a 400 who’s pump had the bypass held unseated by a spec of broken off silicone sealer. This started in the beginning of winter and I did not want to pull the motor down until spring time if I could avoided it! When the motor was fully warmed up this condition left me with only 8 to 10 PSI when hot, yet I never heard the lifters tick at idle! Also with only a maximum hot pressure of 40 psi at full throttle @ 4500 rpm I found no bearing issues when I did take it apart that following spring other then what I would expect from a motor with 85K miles on it.
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Wernher Von Braun warned before his retirement from NASA back in 1972, that the next world war would be against the ETs! And he was not talking about 1/8 or 1/4 mile ETs! 1) 1940s 100% silver 4 cup tea server set. Two dry rotted 14 x 10 Micky Thompson slicks. 1) un-mailed in gift coupon from a 1972 box of corn flakes. Two pairs of brown leather flip flops, never seen more then 2 mph. Education is what your left with once you forget things! Last edited by steve25; 11-06-2021 at 06:24 AM. |
#4
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Quote:
what weight oil are you running? thin oil will read lower psi than a thicker oil. if youre using a 10/30 maybe try a 10/40 or even 15/40 since youre in a warm climate next oil change to see if that raises the psi a tad. |
#5
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Quote:
Have not changed the oil since I bought the car - was done just prior to purchase and has less than 200 miles on it now. Will likely go to 15/40 at the first change. Thanks for the replies.
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Mark Las Cruces NM ___________________________ Current Project: '67 Catalina Convertible 400 4-spd |
The Following User Says Thank You to markpj23 For This Useful Post: | ||
#6
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Quote:
Last edited by 78w72; 11-06-2021 at 11:48 AM. |
#7
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Your oil pressure numbers are consistent with what my brother and I both see in our GTOs. Mine has a boring low compression 400ci, and my brother's has a hotted up 461ci.
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1966 Pontiac GTO (restoration thread) 1998 BMW 328is (track rat) 2023 Subaru Crosstrek Limited (daily) View my photos: Caught in the Wild |
#8
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As everyone says your pressure is good. I have a mechanical gage in mine. On a hot summer day coming off the freeway I'm reading 18psi at 775 rpm at idle using 15-40 oil.
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#9
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Typical pre-74 Pontiac V8. In racing days the recommendation was 10 psi/1000 rpm. Remember Herb Adams saying a Pontiac engine does not need any pressure at idle so 20psi under 1,000 rpm is fine. I have been using Mobil 1 10w-30 for years.
BTW GM oil pressure sendors are notorious for failing. |
#10
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Thanks for all the replies
__________________
Mark Las Cruces NM ___________________________ Current Project: '67 Catalina Convertible 400 4-spd |
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