[Z06] Oil pressure fluctuations normal?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 473
Likes: 2
From: Columbus Ohio
Oil pressure fluctuations normal?
For the first time since owning my new z i really watched the oil pressure guage on my trip into work this morning.
Right after start up and about 50 yards out of my drive, I saw that pressure was about 45. Temp was about 120. As i left a stop sign i shifted from 1 to 2 at about 2800 and i looked down and pressure jumped to 63. As the temp rose i would get on it a little harder from stop signs and lights. Each time the pressure would go up to as much as 66 and then settle back down to about 43 when cruising.
Is this normal? :confused:
TIA
Right after start up and about 50 yards out of my drive, I saw that pressure was about 45. Temp was about 120. As i left a stop sign i shifted from 1 to 2 at about 2800 and i looked down and pressure jumped to 63. As the temp rose i would get on it a little harder from stop signs and lights. Each time the pressure would go up to as much as 66 and then settle back down to about 43 when cruising.
Is this normal? :confused:
TIA
Racer
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
From: Phila. suburbs, PA
Re: Oil pressure fluctuations normal? (PeterK)
The oil pump is a gear drive, so the faster the engine turns, the higher the volume/pressure coming out of the pump. Cold oil is thicker than hot oil, so you will see a higher idle oil pressure when the oil is cold.
There is a spring-loaded relief valve on the oil pump that pops open to allow oil to leak past, to prevent overpressure when the engine really starts to rev or when the oil is cold and thick. Otherwise you could cause the oil filter to burst from the excessive pressure.
Not sure about new cars, but for the muscle cars, a good rule of thumb was 10 lbs. of oil pressure for every 1000 rpm of engine speed. Thus, for a 6500rpm redline, you would want to achieve 65 psi oil pressure, when the oil is at normal operating temp and the engine is revving towards redline. Usually the pressure was "all there" by 4000 rpm or so. Hope this helps.
[Modified by Keystone, 10:50 PM 5/20/2003]
There is a spring-loaded relief valve on the oil pump that pops open to allow oil to leak past, to prevent overpressure when the engine really starts to rev or when the oil is cold and thick. Otherwise you could cause the oil filter to burst from the excessive pressure.
Not sure about new cars, but for the muscle cars, a good rule of thumb was 10 lbs. of oil pressure for every 1000 rpm of engine speed. Thus, for a 6500rpm redline, you would want to achieve 65 psi oil pressure, when the oil is at normal operating temp and the engine is revving towards redline. Usually the pressure was "all there" by 4000 rpm or so. Hope this helps.
[Modified by Keystone, 10:50 PM 5/20/2003]
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 0
From: Coral Springs FL
Re: Oil pressure fluctuations normal? (Keystone)
These are perfectly normal. As the oil warms up, the oil pressure won't spike as badly as when it is cold but it will still increase with RPM. Nothing to worry about as long as you don't rev it above 3500 rpm when the oil is 75 degrees...
