I did an LPE Stage I TT about 3 years ago. Oi pressure was 65-70 on startup and then went down to about 50 after awhile.

Went to a stage II LPE TT and a forged engine. Noticed a 10-12 PSI drop immediately after that package.

Now Im not sure if this has worsened. I am around 45 on startup and then aound 35-36 PSI after awhile on Normal driving. If I come to a light and idle It drops to 24-25 PSI and then she climbs back up to 35-37 PSI when the engine revs and car goes in motion again.

On roadcourses it gets a little hairy. When I'm running her hard she'll get down to 23-25 PSI on the track and when I get off the track and I'm idling, I've seen her as low as 8 PSI during the idle but then climbs back up to 22-25 PSI when driving back to the pits.

Now I'm going to watch this cuz right now I dont want to have to tear down an engine just to find out there may not be anything i can do. But I am also am feeling just a tad uneasy about this.

I spoke to Mike Norris and he gave me some possibilities but also said that I wasnt, as of yet, in a dire need to do something radical but rather suggested on watching it carefully.

But what could cause Oil pressure to deteriorate over time assuming you stay with the same oil thickness? Is there anything I can do to increase pressure? I already use 15-50 Mobil 1 Synthetic.

 

8psi...Too low...Call them quick...

 

8 PSI is when its idle after coming off a 25 minute session on the track. Also, when I get off the track its right after a very wide sweeper so I CAN understand that oil will slosh to the side. This has actually been that way ever since I can remember, probably a year and a half or so.
Have not tried an extra quart yet like some are recommending.

It never gets to 8 in normal driving and that includes a 3 hour trip that I made about 6 weeks ago to Orlando. 22 at idle is the lowest I've seen and then always climbs to high 30's.

But I understand what you are saying

 

Yeah, still on the highway you should see at least 40psi at 1800rpm. Especially since you run a heavier weight oil. What is the oil pressure at 6000rpm? I always see at least 60psi there..

 

The diff between 36 PSI and 40 PSI at 1800 RPM is not a concern to me. I have a forged engine and I know Lingenfelter did something (once the forged engine went in) that brought the PSI down. I'll have to a call them and find out what it was. But they said it was ok. I just am not sure if its gotten worse and now I will have to start paying attention.

 

All you need is 10lbs per 1000rpm use to have a 454bbc that idled at 600 and the pressure was 8lbs and never had a problem soon as i gassed it the pressure went up to 60lbs. Just a thought. Sounds liek you have some big clearances in the rods and main bearings when the car heats up and u stress the egine. I would get it checked out. I can rod on my car all day in the 105 degree heat and it says at 24lbs at 700rpm idle.

 

So...What is the oil pressure at 6000rpm?

 

Thanks for your input. One thing i am going to do the next time I am on the track is modify driving habits. I always shift when the car is way up in the RED line, somwhere around 6800 RPM (The rev limiter was moved up to that mark). I will start shifting about 800 rpm lower wic sholso lower myil temps. They have climbed to 270 on hot days and at this point i really dont want oil cooler. I'd rather try shifting at 6K first to see the effect.

But if you are correct about the clearances, how would you correct it? Does that happen over time or does it get made that way?

 

I'll have to check. You woud think 60 PSI based on what sugarwolf says but again, if its at 50-55 psi then I dont think any risks are being taken cuz you are still getting some good pressure. But some good food for thought I guess.

 

What is your oil temp when pressure is at 8psi ?

 

I wonder if the main bearings and rod bearings were set up a little looser in your high performance engine. Also, did LPE install a "ported" oil pump? Maybe slightly larger passages in the pump?
Volume of oil flow is just as important as pressure too, up to a point.

 

I've seen it as high as 278 on hot summer days but I've also seen 8 PSI at idle when oil temp was in the 250's.

I know what you are saying, oil thins out as it heats up. I thonk I need to stop shifting at 6800 and bring it down a bit. I'm anxious to see what the numbers look like shfting at 5800-6000. Next track day is in Sept.

 

I dont think so

 

This happened right after LPE upgraded your TT kit and you aren't beating at their door demanding warranty service?

Mark

 

Well it didnt quite happen that way.

When the stage I was done the PSI jumped about 12 PSI higher than stock and even higher during the 1st 5 min of driving.

But when the STAGE II was done, it dropped about 3-5 PSI below what it was at stock. But the engine was a forged and totally different engine.

Again, the Pressure at this point really isnt so much an issue in daily driving as much as it is a concern when she's on the track. I think sugarwolf may be on to something though. I'll have to monitor it just to make sure that its not getting worse.

 

I would also lower that oil pickup. I don't road race, but after my top end package, my oil pressure was oscillating through hard turns, etc., and DRM (Doug Rippie Motorsports) dropped the pan and lowered the pickup. No more oscillations.
Ed

 

Please elaborate.. Could you give us the details? Did he put washers between the pickup mounting tab and the block, or stack o-rings, or physically bend the pick up down? Did he remove the pan entirely to do this or just drop down enough to get to the pickup bolt?

 

oh Yea! I know what you mean, I've had the DUMMY LIGHT Come on once in a great while through the turns. But I also am intersted to know how you would lower the pickup becaue that woud help with the oil sloshing to the sides in turns (I dont want to alway have to have an extra quart of oil in there).

 

I will contact him on Monday to see exactly how it was accomplished. I'm sure that he dropped the pan as part of the exercise. I will find out how the pickup was lowered and post back here.
Ed