not so. 
Do I have low oil pressure?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 148
Likes: 2
From: Lake Mary FL
Do I have low oil pressure?
I have a 77 L48 that appears to have been rebuilt. The oil pressure runs at about 20 psi at idle when warmed up. Cruising the highway at 3000 RPM or higher the pressure tops out at 40 psi. Is this a safe operating range for this type of motor?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Assuming an accurate gauge, you need ~10 psi / 1000 rpm to overcome centrifugal force at the mains.
Last edited by TheSkunkWorks; Apr 28, 2011 at 10:28 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Verify it with an accurate gauge. The gauge in the car is meant to be a "monitoring tool" for assessing 'change' in pressure behavior. The gauge is repeatable and reliable; but its accuracy is questionable.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,451
Likes: 974
From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
My 73 Nova SS ran at pretty much arounds 40Lbs when warm with a mechanical oil pressure gauge that I installed (stewart warner) for 170,000 miles and was fine. My 78 L-82 4 speed with the OEM gauge has always run also about 40-50 PSI when hot as well but it does fluctuate at highway speeds and always has. You are fine! I would verify with an independent gauge as others have noted. The stock gauge is often not that accurate and is just for monitoring that the car has some oil pressure and is not meant to be dead on accurate.
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,361
Likes: 383
From: Plano TX
Just to put things in perspective: NASCAR engine builders found the oil pump to noticeably rob power so they run the minimum pressure they can get away with. At idle a NASCAR engine will have less than 5 PSI!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,077
Likes: 0
From: westmoreland N.H.
NASCAR engines don't have a long life expectancy. our engines need pressure for long life. more than 5 psi at idle.
