Oil Pressure at High RPMs...should I be concerned? Please advise!
07-26-2011, 09:37 PM
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
Oil Pressure at High RPMs...should I be concerned? Please advise!
Hey guys,
I am seeing ~45psi at 6500rpm, ~250+ degrees, 15w50 Mobil1. Its a 427 with Ron Davis Radiator w/EOC. It has a the good melling pump in it with red spring. oil and filter are fresh. It idles fine when cold (~55psi) and when hot (~35). Its just the high rpms dont fall into the "10 psi per 1000 rpm" rule of thumb...so I honestly don't know what to think.
What I really need to know is if this is a real concern on track? or not. Is the engine really at risk at 45psi at WOT for extended periods of time?
Please Advise
thx
I am seeing ~45psi at 6500rpm, ~250+ degrees, 15w50 Mobil1. Its a 427 with Ron Davis Radiator w/EOC. It has a the good melling pump in it with red spring. oil and filter are fresh. It idles fine when cold (~55psi) and when hot (~35). Its just the high rpms dont fall into the "10 psi per 1000 rpm" rule of thumb...so I honestly don't know what to think.
What I really need to know is if this is a real concern on track? or not. Is the engine really at risk at 45psi at WOT for extended periods of time?
Please Advise
thx
07-27-2011, 05:22 PM
#3
Drifting
Jeez, what kind of pressure should you be seeing at redline when your oil's hot and you're on track? I typically only watch the oil temp.
I'm only running 5W30 right now and haven't had any problems, but if I'm curious about whether I should be stepping up to a thicker oil..
I'm only running 5W30 right now and haven't had any problems, but if I'm curious about whether I should be stepping up to a thicker oil..
It really depends on what type of oil to use but in a basic answer, that's normal.
07-27-2011, 08:08 PM
#7
Drifting
07-27-2011, 08:11 PM
#8
Drifting
Thread Starter
...
07-27-2011, 08:39 PM
#10
Safety Car
07-28-2011, 12:59 PM
#14
Drifting
Thread Starter
But I do think there is something to gain from asking this forum since many guys track their car and do have the first hand experience of what oil pressure their engines run at.
I do know that 45psi at 6500rpm is not ideal, but what I really need to know is if it is unsafe...
...so far sounds like it is okay.
07-28-2011, 01:18 PM
#15
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Sep 2003
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very true, I've gained a lot of knowledge from Rx-Ben, he runs TTB/2001 coupe at Glen, Ohio, NJMP, Pocono
always gaining good info with every track weekend
always gaining good info with every track weekend
07-28-2011, 02:28 PM
#16
Safety Car
I would say that 45psi is not super comforting but much better than the 35psi I was seeing at Pocono. The GM min spec at 4krpm is 24psig = 38psi on the gauge.
Oil pressure comes from the bearing clearances (and can be lost via the oil-pickup o-ring!), so that is where to look. If you have looser clearances than stock, you may want to run thicker oil. If you have stock clearances, the thicker oil will likely not be able to get into and fully lubricate the bearing/crank/cam interfaces. The gauge will show higher pressures but lubrication will be compromised. There is an oil thread in this forum, skip to towards the end for thicker/longer-chain oil issues.
If you want some comfort, cut open the oil filter and look for bearing shavings. I don't think you'll find any.
The 10psi per 1000rpms rule is from Smokey Yunick (his autobiography is a great read- Best Damn Garage in Town). I think it is at least a couple decades old and predates modern engine oil. Around 50psi seems to be standard at redline in a variety of engines (I see that when my oil isn't as hot as hades), including 9k rpm NASCAR mills.
Oil pressure comes from the bearing clearances (and can be lost via the oil-pickup o-ring!), so that is where to look. If you have looser clearances than stock, you may want to run thicker oil. If you have stock clearances, the thicker oil will likely not be able to get into and fully lubricate the bearing/crank/cam interfaces. The gauge will show higher pressures but lubrication will be compromised. There is an oil thread in this forum, skip to towards the end for thicker/longer-chain oil issues.
If you want some comfort, cut open the oil filter and look for bearing shavings. I don't think you'll find any.
The 10psi per 1000rpms rule is from Smokey Yunick (his autobiography is a great read- Best Damn Garage in Town). I think it is at least a couple decades old and predates modern engine oil. Around 50psi seems to be standard at redline in a variety of engines (I see that when my oil isn't as hot as hades), including 9k rpm NASCAR mills.
Last edited by RX-Ben; 07-28-2011 at 02:35 PM.
07-28-2011, 04:01 PM
#17
Drifting
Thread Starter
I would say that 45psi is not super comforting but much better than the 35psi I was seeing at Pocono. The GM min spec at 4krpm is 24psig = 38psi on the gauge.
Oil pressure comes from the bearing clearances (and can be lost via the oil-pickup o-ring!), so that is where to look. If you have looser clearances than stock, you may want to run thicker oil. If you have stock clearances, the thicker oil will likely not be able to get into and fully lubricate the bearing/crank/cam interfaces. The gauge will show higher pressures but lubrication will be compromised. There is an oil thread in this forum, skip to towards the end for thicker/longer-chain oil issues.
If you want some comfort, cut open the oil filter and look for bearing shavings. I don't think you'll find any.
The 10psi per 1000rpms rule is from Smokey Yunick (his autobiography is a great read- Best Damn Garage in Town). I think it is at least a couple decades old and predates modern engine oil. Around 50psi seems to be standard at redline in a variety of engines (I see that when my oil isn't as hot as hades), including 9k rpm NASCAR mills.
Oil pressure comes from the bearing clearances (and can be lost via the oil-pickup o-ring!), so that is where to look. If you have looser clearances than stock, you may want to run thicker oil. If you have stock clearances, the thicker oil will likely not be able to get into and fully lubricate the bearing/crank/cam interfaces. The gauge will show higher pressures but lubrication will be compromised. There is an oil thread in this forum, skip to towards the end for thicker/longer-chain oil issues.
If you want some comfort, cut open the oil filter and look for bearing shavings. I don't think you'll find any.
The 10psi per 1000rpms rule is from Smokey Yunick (his autobiography is a great read- Best Damn Garage in Town). I think it is at least a couple decades old and predates modern engine oil. Around 50psi seems to be standard at redline in a variety of engines (I see that when my oil isn't as hot as hades), including 9k rpm NASCAR mills.
i guess everything is okay...the whole 10psi per 1k rpm is really what threw me for a loop...a lot of folks still believe in that rule, but I guess it is a bit dated. No choice but to run her and hope for the best.
she will be at road atl in a week, so we will see what happens
07-28-2011, 06:33 PM
#19
Race Director
we just replaced the pump (correctly)...so not an o-ring issue. we are already running 15w50, so realistically not gonna get much thicker than that...
i guess everything is okay...the whole 10psi per 1k rpm is really what threw me for a loop...a lot of folks still believe in that rule, but I guess it is a bit dated. No choice but to run her and hope for the best.
she will be at road atl in a week, so we will see what happens
i guess everything is okay...the whole 10psi per 1k rpm is really what threw me for a loop...a lot of folks still believe in that rule, but I guess it is a bit dated. No choice but to run her and hope for the best.
she will be at road atl in a week, so we will see what happens
Flame suit on.
07-28-2011, 07:32 PM
#20
Drifting
Thread Starter
...just keep adding...
