Crazy Oil Pressure Reading!!
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Crazy Oil Pressure Reading!!
Hello all, have a 73 small block 350...and while I was checking my oil I had nothing showing up on the dip stick. I added oil till the dipstick said it was full and afterward my oil Pressure guage jumped to 35 at idle and maxed out past 70 while i am driving . (Prior to this it ready between 15-35). I freaked out and changed the oil. I added approximately 4 quarts and again got the same high readings. Could this be accurate?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,235
Likes: 0
From: Mesa AZ
was it at 70 psi after the engine was fully warmed up? i'm running 40 at idle and about 60-70 while driving but once the engine is warmed up the psi goes down to about 50 while driving.
what kind of oil was in it before? it could have just been real thin
what kind of oil was in it before? it could have just been real thin
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Sorry guys slow to respond...don't get to play on the internet enough...I am running the same oil 10W-30. The pressure does not go down much after heat up, still hovers around 65 cruising dn the highway. Is there a way to hook up another guage and verify?
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Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,760
Likes: 2,511
From: Buckeye, AZ
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
Too little means not enough pump pressure or lack of oil or leakage. Too much can be bad as well. that may indicate a blocked passage or the like. I woul dnot consider 70 bad...that is about where mine runs under throttle.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,961
Likes: 573
From: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
I recently changed to a big block Melling HV pump. I read 70 psi most of the time, idle to redline. If the oil gets really hot, sometimes it will drop to 50psi at idle. I blew out my rear intake manifold seal, but I think that was due to poor installation. When I bolt the manifold back on, there will only be a silicone bead back there.