High Oil Pressure
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 755
Likes: 1
From: Hobart Tasmania
High Oil Pressure
My '72 BB seems to have very high oil pressure on the gauge need I be concerned. Always sceptical about gauges but if it is correct is this a bad sign. Yes there is plenty of oil in the sump and she has only done about 1000 miles since reconditioning albeit that was two years ago.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
You didn't say what high pressure the gauge reads.
#1 - Try an external gauge to verify the readings of the gauge in the cabin.
#2 - Replace the oil pressure sending unit to again check your readings and make sure both the gauge and sender are working properly.
#3 - Try using a lesser weight oil until the motor breaks in more and your pressure drops. Like maybe 5-30 instead of 10-30.
#1 - Try an external gauge to verify the readings of the gauge in the cabin.
#2 - Replace the oil pressure sending unit to again check your readings and make sure both the gauge and sender are working properly.
#3 - Try using a lesser weight oil until the motor breaks in more and your pressure drops. Like maybe 5-30 instead of 10-30.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 755
Likes: 1
From: Hobart Tasmania
Okay thanks for your advice will take it a shop to test. It's getting harder to find mechanics for our cars particularly in Tasmania and this sort of thing is not really my go.
Regards,
Chris
Regards,
Chris
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
To a shop? All the stuff listed can be done by you in your garage so long as you have a few hand tools and a local parts store.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
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Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 342
Likes: 0
From: Onley VA
Although some high end race engines push higher pressures.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 3
The only thing high oil pressure can hurt is your gage. If it is high someone likely put in a high volumn high pressure oil pump. I have a reducing valve in both of my Corvettes to protect their gages. On the 61 the valve is set to read 55 psi whenever the pressure is above that and accurately below while on the '69 it is set at 65 psi whenever the pressure is above that and accurately below.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
The only thing high oil pressure can hurt is your gage. If it is high someone likely put in a high volumn high pressure oil pump. I have a reducing valve in both of my Corvettes to protect their gages. On the 61 the valve is set to read 55 psi whenever the pressure is above that and accurately below while on the '69 it is set at 65 psi whenever the pressure is above that and accurately below.
Where did you get that valve? I may have need for one of those.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,334
Likes: 4
From: Midland TX
If it is stock oil pressure gauge then there is no sender unit. There is a metal line coming off the engine above the oil filter. A plastic line attaches to the metal line and goes through the firewall to the gauge.
My 72 BB runs 70 psi until oil gets hot. Runs about 35 psi when hot.
I use 10W40 oil.
My 72 BB runs 70 psi until oil gets hot. Runs about 35 psi when hot.
I use 10W40 oil.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,643
Likes: 8
From: Foxfield CO 1970 Convertible
Sending units are for oil TEMP gauges. The general rule of thumb is 10psi or so for every 1,000 rpm.