Oil pressure
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Union New Jersey
Oil pressure
Hello all.....I have a 2000 corvette convertible with about 70000 miles on it. I have the normal 5.7 ltr. engine. The analog and the digital oil pressure gauges on a cold start start at 41 lbs. and go down to about 28lbs. at operating temp. As I am driving it goes up to about 35-45 lbs. . I live in NJ and day time temps are around 86 degrees outside now. I was wondering if this is a good oil pressure for this car? I am using Mobil 1 5w30 in the car. Thank You all in advance for any info.....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 832
Likes: 14
From: Lake Charles Louisiana
28 lbs. hot idling pressure is "normal". The GM engineers call it "normal". The GM engineers also say 6 lbs. hot idle pressure is "sufficient". I call 6 lbs. hot idle pressure totally unacceptable. I call 28 lbs. hot idling pressure acceptable but not good for the engine. I'm not an engineer by any stretch. When I changed my balancer I installed a new Melling oil pump. Ported it to clean up the passages. Shimmed the spring. I how idle hot at around 42 lbs. 2000 RPM interstate driving is around 62 lbs. Engine is MUCH quieter, mainly the valve train. Engine seems much happier.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 170
From: oregon
28 lbs. hot idling pressure is "normal". The GM engineers call it "normal". The GM engineers also say 6 lbs. hot idle pressure is "sufficient". I call 6 lbs. hot idle pressure totally unacceptable. I call 28 lbs. hot idling pressure acceptable but not good for the engine. I'm not an engineer by any stretch. When I changed my balancer I installed a new Melling oil pump. Ported it to clean up the passages. Shimmed the spring. I how idle hot at around 42 lbs. 2000 RPM interstate driving is around 62 lbs. Engine is MUCH quieter, mainly the valve train. Engine seems much happier.
most engines, at least stock ones, run around 30psi at idle. could be a jeep, honda, doesn't matter, they all fall around that range
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 832
Likes: 14
From: Lake Charles Louisiana
I've never seen a chevy V-8 idle under 35. My 01 Vette idled at 25-26 before I changed the oil pump. And that was with 54K on the clock. I just don't see oil pressure that low being optimum for an engine period. As I've stated before my valve train noise has gone to nill on start up and piston slap is also almost non existent.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,955
Likes: 161
From: PNW
Hello all.....I have a 2000 corvette convertible with about 70000 miles on it. I have the normal 5.7 ltr. engine. The analog and the digital oil pressure gauges on a cold start start at 41 lbs. and go down to about 28lbs. at operating temp. As I am driving it goes up to about 35-45 lbs. . I live in NJ and day time temps are around 86 degrees outside now. I was wondering if this is a good oil pressure for this car? I am using Mobil 1 5w30 in the car. Thank You all in advance for any info.....
With Mobil 1 5W-30 at 200 deg F (per the DIC readout), my '02 Z06 (with only 24K miles) runs at 33 PSI. At oil temp of 215 *F, the idle pressure is 32 PSI. Idle is 800 RPM without the AC turned on.
If your oil is hotter than 215 *F, then the idle pressure will be even less. For having 70K miles, I'd say your oil pressure is normal.
At 2000 RPM and oil at 200 *F, the pressure reads at 46 PSI on the DIC on my Zee.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,449
Likes: 409
From: Portland OR
I put the std melting pump in mine when I did my cam. Put the higher pressure spring in. Idle pressure didn't change. It wasn't supposed to.
I get 28 lbs hot
Going down the dragstrip, 57lbs.
Now, if you put a HV pump in, I'd expect to see higher pressure.
28 at idle hot oil is more than adequate.
FWIW, after more than 150 1/4 mile runs, my oil pressure has not changed one bit.
Ron
I get 28 lbs hot
Going down the dragstrip, 57lbs.
Now, if you put a HV pump in, I'd expect to see higher pressure.
28 at idle hot oil is more than adequate.
FWIW, after more than 150 1/4 mile runs, my oil pressure has not changed one bit.
Ron
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