Very normal for the high oil pressure. The oil pressure will also fluctuate with RPM's. The higher the RPM the higher the oil pressure.
Engine tuning
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
Engine tuning
So we finally got her running, wow, it was beautiful to hear 350 horsepower clearing her throat for the first time in 15 years. WOW! But down to business, the oil pressure is way too high, 70 pounds at 1500 hundred RPM’s. Maybe it is just because we changed the oil and it has been sitting for a while, and we haven’t let it run for more than 5 minutes. There is oil in the top of the engine. We are going to try again in the morning when the engine cools down. If the pressure is still high what should be done? Without tearing apart the engine. THANKS!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 7,106
Likes: 38
From: Newark DE
until the oil heats up to temp oil pressure is going to be high - cold oil is thicker than hot oil so the pressure is higher.
Both my '65 and my '78 do this - the '78 oil pressure is maxxed on the gauge when cold and the '65 is pretty near max on the gauge also when cold. after oil heats up they go to normal.
Also, if the engine was build with a heavy duty oil pump it's going to have higher pressure.
let the motor and oil temps come up to operating temp and see what it does before worrying.
by oil "on top of engine" do you mean you see oil pooled up on the intake manifold? Is it by the intake manifold bolts? If so it's probably just oil that wicked up the bolt threads. This is common. Just pull the intake manifold bolts and reinstall them with a thread sealant on them. That keeps the oil from wicking up them
Both my '65 and my '78 do this - the '78 oil pressure is maxxed on the gauge when cold and the '65 is pretty near max on the gauge also when cold. after oil heats up they go to normal.
Also, if the engine was build with a heavy duty oil pump it's going to have higher pressure.
let the motor and oil temps come up to operating temp and see what it does before worrying.
by oil "on top of engine" do you mean you see oil pooled up on the intake manifold? Is it by the intake manifold bolts? If so it's probably just oil that wicked up the bolt threads. This is common. Just pull the intake manifold bolts and reinstall them with a thread sealant on them. That keeps the oil from wicking up them
Last edited by BarryK; Jun 19, 2009 at 07:16 AM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
I meant we disconnected the distributer and turned the key for a few minutes. Then reconnected it. so the oil was throughout. The oil is now ok. After startingit again today my dad put it in drive and the transmission would not engage. we are getting inconsistant readings on the fluid stick. but we are going to put more in. If that does not work what should we do from there?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 7,106
Likes: 38
From: Newark DE
If nothing happened when you put it in gear on an auto trans it's most likely just a very low trans fluid level.
If if got that low chances are the tranny was run on low level for a while.
I'd drain the tranny, change the fluid and filter and see what happens.
good chance once you have the proper level of good fluid in there the tranny will work fine.
If if got that low chances are the tranny was run on low level for a while.
I'd drain the tranny, change the fluid and filter and see what happens.
good chance once you have the proper level of good fluid in there the tranny will work fine.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
What does the oil on the tranny dipstick look like? If it is clear with a red tint and doesn't smell 'burnt', it should be OK. You might even see some tiny bubbles of moisture on it, but that's not a problem...it is likely just some condensation that will boil off when it gets hot. Recheck your tranny dipstick for proper level and oil condition after you've run it a while too. If the tranny oil looks 'milky' or splotchy, drain it and change the filter immediately. You don't want to circulate that cr@p in your tranny.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
I put transmission fluid in. It now works. But now the steering is not working. I put some steering fluid in. Would that fix it? I have to wait for my dad to conduct more tests. But if this does not fix it what should we do?
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