Oil pressure

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Mar 7, 2003 | 12:56 PM

VetBoy89

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Burning Brakes

Joined: Apr 2002

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From: Patterson CA

Oil pressure

Can someone help me figure out my oil pressure issue, I think it is too low.

Coolant temp - 199*
Oil temp - 215*
With 20w/50 - Oil pressure while cruising about 2200rpm - 37
With 20w/50 - Oil pressure at idle - 17-20

If I use 5w/30 I get oil pressure of 35 at cruise and 5-9 at idle :eek: Isn't that too low? Shouldn't I be able to use 5w/30?

I'm not really burning any oil and no leaks, I change it once a month at about 3,200 miles. Before I change it the level is pretty much full, just barely below the full line.

Is this an oil pump problem or do I have other "issues"?

TIA :thumbs:

Mar 7, 2003 | 01:00 PM

vader86

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Joined: Sep 2001

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From: Athens AL

C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021

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Re: Oil pressure (VetBoy89)

45-60 at cruise and around 30-35 at idle is what you should be getting.
It doesnt matter what weight oil you use, you should still get something close to that.

Check the sender.

Mar 7, 2003 | 01:06 PM

VetBoy89

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: Apr 2002

Posts: 755

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From: Patterson CA

Re: Oil pressure (vader86)

Quote:

Check the sender.

I replaced the sender when I did my intake manifold a couple of months ago because my oil pressure guage read 5 when the ignition was on/car off. Now it reads 2 ign on/car off, shouldn't it read 0? The oil pressure problem is the same before and after the sender swap.

Mar 7, 2003 | 07:28 PM

JCAIRE2

Le Mans Master

Joined: Jun 2002

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From: High Plains Drifter Fayetteville, AR

Re: Oil pressure (VetBoy89)

Hot oil @ 600rpm idle I get between 18-25Lbs on my '88 l98

Mar 7, 2003 | 09:47 PM

C4Fanatic

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From: Andover, KS

Re: Oil pressure (VetBoy89)

Good post, I'm having the same sort of problem on my 87. At idle with the engine hot , around 160 on my car, the oil temp is about 10 degrees hotter than engine temp. At idle with the car in gear(idle rpm around 700-800) the oil pressure drops off to 0-5. Changed the oil today and put in 10W30 Castrol Syntec and still the same thing. Sound like the pressure sending unit???? :confused: :confused:

Mar 7, 2003 | 09:54 PM

CentralCoaster

Team Owner

Joined: May 2002

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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed

Re: Oil pressure (C4Fanatic)

Its worth a shot.

On a side note, I replaced my sending unit because it was reading 8 psi with the motor off. The new one reads 2 psi with the motor off. I think it relies on varying resistance to send the proper voltage, so perhaps the wiring to it could affect the reading also?

Usually when these start to fail, they'll peg the guage every now and then.

Mar 7, 2003 | 10:03 PM

C4Fanatic

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From: Andover, KS

Re: Oil pressure (CentralCoaster)

I haven't seen it peg(yet) it just freaked me out to look down and see a big red light and 0 oil pressure. This jus started happening in the last couple of weeks.

Mar 8, 2003 | 06:28 AM

vert2go89

Burning Brakes

Joined: May 1999

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From: waller texas

Cruise-In I Veteran

Re: Oil pressure (C4Fanatic)

my 89 reads about same as yours but at 1500 rpm its around 35.hotter 220 degrees it drops to around 27 at idle its around 15.I think best thing to do would be use a manual gauge to see if car gauge is correct or not.