Oil PSI... is dropping ... :(
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 22,267
Likes: 3
From: Dallas TX
I wanted to check with you guys. When I start my vette up in the morning... the oil pressure is at about 60psi. When the engine warms up to around 200 in the texas heat, at idle, it's at 10psi and when moving anything faster than 15-20mph, it is at 40psi. I was told by a couple of guys tonight down at the races that I just need to bump up to 15w50 oil. What do you guys think? Is there something wrong, or are the temps just thining out the oil too much so that the pressure drops?
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,251
Likes: 0
If the motor has 130k, on it. Then its probably got some wear on the main & rod bearings,& cam bearings.
When it warms those areas expand causing low pressure.
Thicker oil will help & nothing protects like mobile 1.But Your gonna have to rebuild her, sooner is better than later on this one.
Could just be an oil pump.
When it warms those areas expand causing low pressure.
Thicker oil will help & nothing protects like mobile 1.But Your gonna have to rebuild her, sooner is better than later on this one.
Could just be an oil pump.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 25,057
Likes: 1,265
From: Virginia
St. Jude Donor '11
Hard driven 130,000? after you try the 20w50...if it doesn't work, before you put a new oil pump or rebuild...try a bottle of STP oil treatment...its helped other people I know with low oil pressure...sorta like blood pressure medicine for the elderly...I've used it for years and years in my other high milage small block chevys...I have over 150,000 in 2 of them...I even put it in my original 1970 YENKO Nova, 350/370/LT1 balanced and blueprinted engine with 70,000 miles on it and it really works... 
[This message has been edited by Yello95 (edited 07-23-2001).]
[This message has been edited by Yello95 (edited 07-23-2001).]
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 22,267
Likes: 3
From: Dallas TX
I do not know if they were hard driven, but I suspect not, otherwise I would probably be having other problems that are even worse.
I am still trying to decide whether to try 20w50 or not. I don't know if that is going to be too thick or not. I know people have used it before, but not on an engine with 130k miles on it
.
I am still trying to decide whether to try 20w50 or not. I don't know if that is going to be too thick or not. I know people have used it before, but not on an engine with 130k miles on it
.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 25,057
Likes: 1,265
From: Virginia
St. Jude Donor '11
"I am still trying to decide whether to try 20w50 or not."
Glock'94
Try the 20W50 first...see if it helps...it wont hurt anything, especially in your hot weather...I used to use Valvoline 20W50 racing oil in a 427/L88 I put in a 55 chevy years ago and it worked fine...Valvoline still makes 20W50 racing oil and you can get it at Kmart or Walmart.Try it.
[This message has been edited by Yello95 (edited 07-23-2001).]
