Oil Pressure too low?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 24,460
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From: sw Ohio
Oil Pressure too low?
Today I noticed my oil temps were getting well over 200* which I rarely see on my car unless i'm hot doggin it or sitting in traffic, but I was just going down the highway at 70mph. Anyway I flipped over to the oil pressure and it was around 35 psi @ 1900 rpm which seems too low. My book says it should be around 50 psi @ 2000rpm. Thats about what it used to be before I put new heads on it. Its not leaking any oil. So what do you guys think? Is this a problem?
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
As temps rise, the pressure will diminish due to thinning of the oil. 35 psi at 1900 is not a problem in and of itself. Find out what's caused the higher temps and get them back to where they were. Then you'll know where you stand. My engine's set up "looser" than stock and at full operating temps for coolant and oil, 35 psi is about normal at cruising RPMs with 10w30 syn. oil. But it will continue to rise as RPMs do. This is a purpose built engine with nearly every aspect modified or massaged in one way or another. I purposely built it to have adequate oil pressure and flow w/o having an excess of it. This was to contribute to overall efficiency by minimizing unneeded drag by the oil pump. Under most conditions, my oil and coolant temps stay well under 200 degrees.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 24,460
Likes: 7
From: sw Ohio
Yeah mine used to stay under 200 degrees, but I cant figure out why its doing it now, nothing has changed. The fan used to kick on at 195* but now it wont kick on until 205-210* which makes no sense to me.
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Whether or not the fans on your earlier car are controlled by the temp. sensor or a temp. switch, I cannot say. But whichever it is, it sounds as if that's where you should start looking.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: The Top of Utah
There is nothing wrong with oil temps over 200°. Mine often run at 230°. Your oil pressure doesn't indicate any real problems. A thicker grade of oil will raise the pressure. I'd make sure the oil hasn't been thinned out by any contaminants like gasoline from a leaky injector, etc. and then quit worrying. That oil pressure is suitable for a well worn stock engine.
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Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 65,811
Likes: 71
From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
There is nothing wrong with oil temps over 200°. Mine often run at 230°. Your oil pressure doesn't indicate any real problems. A thicker grade of oil will raise the pressure. I'd make sure the oil hasn't been thinned out by any contaminants like gasoline from a leaky injector, etc. and then quit worrying. That oil pressure is suitable for a well worn stock engine.
RACE ON!!!
RACE ON!!!
Since from your description this change sounds as if it was rather sudden, make the repairs needed to get the temp. back down to where it was. And I believe you'll get back the pressure readings you had previously.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
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35psi of pressure at 2000rpm isnt a bad thing, but that is below the spec in the manual.....should be in the mid-40s at least. Mine only gets below 55psi on the hwy when its really hot (like 230).
I would verify the reading with a real gauge first, then inspect the sender and its connections.
I would verify the reading with a real gauge first, then inspect the sender and its connections.
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