on the pressure at idle or higher rpm?
Low oil Pressure?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
From: Dumont New Jersey
Low oil Pressure?
My oil pressure is about 17 on the guage.
All my other vehicles are about 35, right int he middle.
Is this something I should be concerned with?
The oil level is good. And it does not fluctuate when I accelerate or drive. Always 17 .
Anyone?
All my other vehicles are about 35, right int he middle.
Is this something I should be concerned with?
The oil level is good. And it does not fluctuate when I accelerate or drive. Always 17 .
Anyone?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Could be a bad gauge, as pressure should rise and fall with RPM. Really need to verify your actual pressure. If you truly have only 17 psi, there's not enough pressure to overcome the crank's centrifugal force above 1500-1700 RPM to supply the rod bearings...
A little more at idle is fine but, Per Smokey Yunick, you're only looking for about 10 psi per 1000 RPM to achieve proper lubrication (i.e. 40 psi @ 4000 RPM). Much more than that only wastes power, heats up the oil, and wears the pump and related drive unnecessarily.
A little more at idle is fine but, Per Smokey Yunick, you're only looking for about 10 psi per 1000 RPM to achieve proper lubrication (i.e. 40 psi @ 4000 RPM). Much more than that only wastes power, heats up the oil, and wears the pump and related drive unnecessarily.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,342
Likes: 7
From: Connecticut
I would certainly check it with another gauge and line right at the source on the block
The fact that it does not move with RPM increase leads me to believe its a faulty gauge or a clogged line or both.
My '73 reads about 20# at idle and never goes above 35# or so
I hooked up a Sun professional gauge at the block and saw 30# at idle and around 60# at higher RPM.
I did buy a new gauge and I haven't replaced it yet but I do know that its off and I can rest easy now.
The fact that it does not move with RPM increase leads me to believe its a faulty gauge or a clogged line or both.
My '73 reads about 20# at idle and never goes above 35# or so
I hooked up a Sun professional gauge at the block and saw 30# at idle and around 60# at higher RPM.
I did buy a new gauge and I haven't replaced it yet but I do know that its off and I can rest easy now.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,342
Likes: 7
From: Connecticut
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
From: Dumont New Jersey
Clock, Oil, Battery
Is there a common thread between the three I can look into?
Fuse? Wires? etc?
Or possibly all broken?
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 266
Likes: 1
From: S.E. Michigan
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Viscosity is the more important factor here. Synthetics tend to flow better when cold, but after warm-up you shouldn't see much difference.
Whatever oil you choose, run the viscosity that puts oil pressure where it should be. If you can't get it there by changing viscosity, then adjusting the relief spring in the pump is the only other choice.
I forgot to mention that high pressure also opens the filter bypass even more, resulting in less filtration.
Whatever oil you choose, run the viscosity that puts oil pressure where it should be. If you can't get it there by changing viscosity, then adjusting the relief spring in the pump is the only other choice.
I forgot to mention that high pressure also opens the filter bypass even more, resulting in less filtration.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,342
Likes: 7
From: Connecticut
If the oil pressure gauge is stock it is simply a manual gauge which reads oil pressure through a thin tube that runs from the back of the block to the gauge and is not effected by any other gauge or electrical circuit.