Cammed What Oil ? What Pressure?
03-10-2016, 06:42 PM
#1
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Cammed What Oil ? What Pressure?
Curious if mobil 1 5-w30 is just fine for a cammed car?
I am seeing start up pressure at 70psi is this normal?
Oil temps are higher than coolant temps.
I am seeing start up pressure at 70psi is this normal?
Oil temps are higher than coolant temps.
Last edited by Got uid0; 03-11-2016 at 06:48 PM.
03-10-2016, 08:35 PM
#2
Racer
I have an LS3 with a big cam, 6MT, Z51, Underdrive pulley, 160F thermostat and running stock 5w-30 Mobile 1. Car was cammed at 20k miles and now at 30k. I see 43 psi on a cold start in a 70 degree garage and my oil pressure usually runs around 40 psi when hot. My oil temps this time of year are always hotter than the coolant, but it really depends how I am driving the car.
Your oil pressure at 70 psi sounds high.
Your oil pressure at 70 psi sounds high.
Last edited by Suds; 03-10-2016 at 08:37 PM.
03-10-2016, 08:46 PM
#3
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
I have an LS3 with a big cam, 6MT, Z51, Underdrive pulley, 160F thermostat and running stock 5w-30 Mobile 1. Car was cammed at 20k miles and now at 30k. I see 43 psi on a cold start in a 70 degree garage and my oil pressure usually runs around 40 psi when hot. My oil temps this time of year are always hotter than the coolant, but it really depends how I am driving the car.
Your oil pressure at 70 psi sounds high.
Your oil pressure at 70 psi sounds high.
Usually cold starts are around 60 but the other morning it was 70. What could contribute to abnormally high psi at start?
Any tips on thermal protection that should be applied due to header heat? Passenger side engine near the firewall seems extremely hot and caused 02 wires to burn.
I do not want to wrap the headers but would like to know of any other parts or lines i should make sure to wrap. Battery, ac lines, compressor, starter ?
03-10-2016, 09:00 PM
#5
Melting Slicks
cold oil causes high pressures until it warms up.
Whats your operating pressure at temp? high 30's to low 40's?
Whats your operating pressure at temp? high 30's to low 40's?
03-10-2016, 09:02 PM
#6
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
03-10-2016, 11:30 PM
#8
Melting Slicks
I dont pay much attention to cold pressure except to make sure I have it.
If your operating temp pressure is mid 30's at idle, I would say its ok.
Ever start a car in sub zero temps that has a real oil pressure gauge? Ive seen it in a semi truck over 100 psi until things warmed up. Like pumping molasses through the motor.
If your operating temp pressure is mid 30's at idle, I would say its ok.
Ever start a car in sub zero temps that has a real oil pressure gauge? Ive seen it in a semi truck over 100 psi until things warmed up. Like pumping molasses through the motor.
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Got uid0 (03-11-2016)
03-11-2016, 12:00 AM
#9
Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Usual advice is to ask your builder (unless you are the builder
). That said, if it's an LG cam, call and ask one of the guys---I'd start w. Anthony. Be ready to list all your other changes but a pic of your tune might be needed, too.
). That said, if it's an LG cam, call and ask one of the guys---I'd start w. Anthony. Be ready to list all your other changes but a pic of your tune might be needed, too.
03-11-2016, 01:06 AM
#10
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
RIght
Exactly Hippy,
It is not a stock cam so what was good for stock may not be good enough for an aggressive cam to keep the lifters and valve springs healthy.
Exactly Hippy,
It is not a stock cam so what was good for stock may not be good enough for an aggressive cam to keep the lifters and valve springs healthy.
Last edited by Got uid0; 03-11-2016 at 01:37 AM.
03-11-2016, 09:50 AM
#11
Former Vendor
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Personally I can not stand Mobil 1 products anymore. They did make a good oil but forced by the hand of the EPA they have removed a lot of the additives that are needed to protect the cars under extreme use and more radical modifications like a big cam. Their way of getting around part of that is to run a lot of pressure so the oil can not break down and retains some what of a film layer between the two metal parts. **This is relevant to roller cam cars. DO NOT USE THESE OILS ON A FLAT TAPPET MUSCLE CAR. The cam will die in less than 1000 miles due to lack of protection**
I know I always get flamed from time to time "the factory does it", but we are not talking about a factory designed car once you modify it.
That being said Mobil has an oil that is "ok" to use with a more radical lift cam like their 0W40. It is a European blend that has a bit more additives in it, mainly to work with the turbo setups.
I am not a huge fan of extremely thick oil in a street car. You need oil pressure and that should be key #1 but always pick an oil for the temps that the car will see. If your oil temps are 150-210 degrees. 5w30 or 10w30 is more than fine as long as you can maintain good oil pressure. If you are going to be in the 230-250 range I would suggest a 40w oil, and anything over that 50w. 290-300+ is a danger zone for oil. A small time in that area will not due damage but it will break the oil down rather quickly so change it after that weekend (only going to see this on track unless something is drastically wrong with the car).
We use a lot of Red Line Oil and a lot of Motul products and have had zero failures with them. There are other brands out there that do a good job as well. Do your research and pick an oil that works for your car.
That being said if you are seeing 70psi on a cold start up...say 30 degrees outside I wouldn't worry. 30-40 psi at idle once it has warmed up 160-200 is fine and quite normal.
Wet sump cars, normal operating temps for the oil (depending out outside air and run time) is going to be 190-230ish on the street.
I know I always get flamed from time to time "the factory does it", but we are not talking about a factory designed car once you modify it.
That being said Mobil has an oil that is "ok" to use with a more radical lift cam like their 0W40. It is a European blend that has a bit more additives in it, mainly to work with the turbo setups.
I am not a huge fan of extremely thick oil in a street car. You need oil pressure and that should be key #1 but always pick an oil for the temps that the car will see. If your oil temps are 150-210 degrees. 5w30 or 10w30 is more than fine as long as you can maintain good oil pressure. If you are going to be in the 230-250 range I would suggest a 40w oil, and anything over that 50w. 290-300+ is a danger zone for oil. A small time in that area will not due damage but it will break the oil down rather quickly so change it after that weekend (only going to see this on track unless something is drastically wrong with the car).
We use a lot of Red Line Oil and a lot of Motul products and have had zero failures with them. There are other brands out there that do a good job as well. Do your research and pick an oil that works for your car.
That being said if you are seeing 70psi on a cold start up...say 30 degrees outside I wouldn't worry. 30-40 psi at idle once it has warmed up 160-200 is fine and quite normal.
Wet sump cars, normal operating temps for the oil (depending out outside air and run time) is going to be 190-230ish on the street.
03-11-2016, 06:27 PM
#12
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Personally I can not stand Mobil 1 products anymore. They did make a good oil but forced by the hand of the EPA they have removed a lot of the additives that are needed to protect the cars under extreme use and more radical modifications like a big cam. Their way of getting around part of that is to run a lot of pressure so the oil can not break down and retains some what of a film layer between the two metal parts. **This is relevant to roller cam cars. DO NOT USE THESE OILS ON A FLAT TAPPET MUSCLE CAR. The cam will die in less than 1000 miles due to lack of protection**
I know I always get flamed from time to time "the factory does it", but we are not talking about a factory designed car once you modify it.
That being said Mobil has an oil that is "ok" to use with a more radical lift cam like their 0W40. It is a European blend that has a bit more additives in it, mainly to work with the turbo setups.
I am not a huge fan of extremely thick oil in a street car. You need oil pressure and that should be key #1 but always pick an oil for the temps that the car will see. If your oil temps are 150-210 degrees. 5w30 or 10w30 is more than fine as long as you can maintain good oil pressure. If you are going to be in the 230-250 range I would suggest a 40w oil, and anything over that 50w. 290-300+ is a danger zone for oil. A small time in that area will not due damage but it will break the oil down rather quickly so change it after that weekend (only going to see this on track unless something is drastically wrong with the car).
We use a lot of Red Line Oil and a lot of Motul products and have had zero failures with them. There are other brands out there that do a good job as well. Do your research and pick an oil that works for your car.
That being said if you are seeing 70psi on a cold start up...say 30 degrees outside I wouldn't worry. 30-40 psi at idle once it has warmed up 160-200 is fine and quite normal.
Wet sump cars, normal operating temps for the oil (depending out outside air and run time) is going to be 190-230ish on the street.
I know I always get flamed from time to time "the factory does it", but we are not talking about a factory designed car once you modify it.
That being said Mobil has an oil that is "ok" to use with a more radical lift cam like their 0W40. It is a European blend that has a bit more additives in it, mainly to work with the turbo setups.
I am not a huge fan of extremely thick oil in a street car. You need oil pressure and that should be key #1 but always pick an oil for the temps that the car will see. If your oil temps are 150-210 degrees. 5w30 or 10w30 is more than fine as long as you can maintain good oil pressure. If you are going to be in the 230-250 range I would suggest a 40w oil, and anything over that 50w. 290-300+ is a danger zone for oil. A small time in that area will not due damage but it will break the oil down rather quickly so change it after that weekend (only going to see this on track unless something is drastically wrong with the car).
We use a lot of Red Line Oil and a lot of Motul products and have had zero failures with them. There are other brands out there that do a good job as well. Do your research and pick an oil that works for your car.
That being said if you are seeing 70psi on a cold start up...say 30 degrees outside I wouldn't worry. 30-40 psi at idle once it has warmed up 160-200 is fine and quite normal.
Wet sump cars, normal operating temps for the oil (depending out outside air and run time) is going to be 190-230ish on the street.
Thank you very much
Last edited by Got uid0; 03-11-2016 at 06:49 PM.
03-14-2016, 11:36 AM
#15
Safety Car
Don't forget with a cammed car it is tuned to idle at a higher rpm giving you a higher oil pressure reading so don't read to much into a cammed car oil pressure. Cam has nothing to do with it.
