i got the Oil Pressure Blues

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10-20-2005, 09:17 PM
lerch

i got the Oil Pressure Blues

i have a newly rebuilt 350 with vortec heads and recently noticed a drop in power...Maybe...Maybe not.i only say that cause i am not sure if it is just me thinking that as i look at the oil pressure guage reading about 10 at idle and around 25 cruising and only about 30 on the hiway. Should it not be between 35 to 50?
Could it be the oil pressure guage?What are all that could cause low pressure?Got any ideas how to test the guage? Or is there any adjustments or calibrations i need to do to it?

Tia,

Lerch
10-20-2005, 09:22 PM
erik erikson

Re: i got the Oil Pressure Blues

Quote:

Originally posted by lerch
i have a newly rebuilt 350 with vortec heads and recently noticed a drop in power...Maybe...Maybe not.i only say that cause i am not sure if it is just me thinking that as i look at the oil pressure guage reading about 10 at idle and around 25 cruising and only about 30 on the hiway. Should it not be between 35 to 50?
Could it be the oil pressure guage?What are all that could cause low pressure?Got any ideas how to test the guage? Or is there any adjustments or calibrations i need to do to it?

Tia,

Lerch

Excessive bearing clearance.Try a different oil pressure gauge,and sending unit.The old rule of thumb was 10 lbs. for every 1,000 r.p.m.s.
10-20-2005, 09:28 PM
76GMC1500

A stock oil pump is set at 35 psi. 10 psi at idle is ok.
10-21-2005, 08:14 AM
cj11l

If you are using an electrical gauge, you might want to verify the accuracy of the reading by hooking up a mechanical oil pressure gauge. Being a fresh engine, 10 lbs at idle seems a little low. Did you freshen the engine yourself, if yes what were the bearing clearances? Has the oil pressure dropped, or is this what it has always read?

Chris Laarman
Ottawa Engine and Performance
www.ottawaengine.com
10-21-2005, 03:41 PM
firebird77clone

try a mechanical guage. If the pressure is confirmed, then EITHER
A: excessive clearance issues. ( rebuild time )

B: the pressure bypass spring in the oil pump has failed, or the oil pump itself has excessive wear.

Drop in a bottle of LUCAS oil treatment, see if that helps
10-21-2005, 04:27 PM
pizzi-man

solids or hydrolic? I know that most sbc's are running at about 30 to 35 lbs
10-21-2005, 05:14 PM
erik erikson

Quote:

Originally posted by pizzi-man
solids or hydrolic? I know that most sbc's are running at about 30 to 35 lbs

What does running a hyd. or solid cam have to do with oil pressure?
10-21-2005, 10:53 PM
Stroke_this383

Just go buy some Lucas and watch the gauge rise...lol

Stroker..!
10-22-2005, 11:20 AM
pizzi-man

hydrolics won't work with out pressure and they will make noise. Solids make noise all the time and will continue to workwith out oil pressure. If your lifters are hydrolic and quite you should be alright
10-22-2005, 08:05 PM
erik erikson

Quote:

Originally posted by pizzi-man
hydrolics won't work with out pressure and they will make noise. Solids make noise all the time and will continue to workwith out oil pressure. If your lifters are hydrolic and quite you should be alright

UMMM,I think he would hear a rod or a main bearing knocking without oil pressure before he would hear a hyd. lifter.
10-23-2005, 05:30 AM
s10streeter

Quote:

Originally posted by erik erikson
UMMM,I think he would hear a rod or a main bearing knocking without oil pressure before he would hear a hyd. lifter.

I agree with that!

come to think of it, I have never had a non-roller valve train that was totaly quiet. All of the GM small blocks I have ever owned produced a little noise.:D
10-23-2005, 07:37 AM
lerch

Hi Guys,sorry i have been out and not able to read or respond to your suggestions.But let me see here.

1. i have a mechanical gauge. (there is no sending unit to a mechanical,correct?)
2. its a somewhat new rebuild.maybe 4000 miles is all.So no,i don't think its time ALREADY for a rebuild.And No, Lucas is for worn engines.this is Not a worn engine.
3.its got hydraulic lifters. (Very quiet.no noise at all.in fact i have never heard such a smooth running quite engine.)
4. it seems like it was reading a little higher before i put in this new distributor.why would that make a difference?
Thanks for the responses.
----Lerch
10-23-2005, 10:46 AM
pizzi-man

no oil pressure and every thing makes noise low oil pressure will still lubricate the lower end but will not properly fill the hydrolic lifters and there for make noise. when the lifters make noise it's time to check the oil and add( tell the little lady that, they wait for the light and still don't understand). when the rods make noise it's time to reach way down in to that pocket and pay big bucks;)
10-23-2005, 10:52 AM
pat mccarthy

the dist gose thru the oil gally and plugs it . msd give you Orings to dry this up. but block needs a lead so you do not cut the O ring when you put this in the block but. i do not think this is it . dos the oil look good ?how hot is it ?try changing the oil and filter try a new oil gauges 10 psi at 1000 is good 35 at 3500 is just fine and will run that way for a very long time you do not need 65 psi but when you get on it the oil psi needs to go up
10-23-2005, 12:19 PM
erik erikson

Quote:

Originally posted by pizzi-man
hydrolics won't work with out pressure and they will make noise. Solids make noise all the time and will continue to workwith out oil pressure. If your lifters are hydrolic and quite you should be alright

Is it with oil pressure or with low oil pressure?Your story changed.
10-23-2005, 01:51 PM
pizzi-man

hey dude, story is one thing fact is another.Fact 1 soilds are just that, solid Fact 2 hydrolics need oil pressure to pump up, in order to work. The solids will run and continue opening and closeing the valves without oil until they wear out and fry. hydrolics on the other hand will not work without pressure and will not open and close the valves. The post is about a guy worried that 30lbs pressure for a small block might be to low.
10-23-2005, 03:49 PM
erik erikson

Quote:

Originally posted by pizzi-man
hey dude, story is one thing fact is another.Fact 1 soilds are just that, solid Fact 2 hydrolics need oil pressure to pump up, in order to work. The solids will run and continue opening and closeing the valves without oil until they wear out and fry. hydrolics on the other hand will not work without pressure and will not open and close the valves. The post is about a guy worried that 30lbs pressure for a small block might be to low.

What are hydrolics?
10-23-2005, 03:54 PM
erik erikson

Quote:

Originally posted by DennyW
:confused: So, If I have 10-15 lbs at say 750 rpm's at the light, and then I stand on it, and look at my gauge at 6000 rpm's, and it's reading 30, I'm ok ?? Or is that 10 lbs for every 1000 rule apply, or is it the pump is only made for 35 ?? Or is it as long as there is a oil film there, I'm ok ?? :confused: :whacked:

I am going to go for the old 10 psi. every 1,000 r.p.m.s.Even though oil has changed over the years this still works for me.If you want go with the oil film there.Why do they call it an oil pump anyway? L.O.L.
10-23-2005, 04:12 PM
pizzi-man

Do you know what a bypass is? Too much oil pressure can cause
problems to and that's why they have those spring loaded bypasses incorperated in the oil pumps. P S It's the oily film that reduces frictionwhich reduces heat and ware
10-23-2005, 04:12 PM
erik erikson

Quote:

Originally posted by DennyW
:) It is for my way of thinking for the street. I would only accept 30 lbs if it was a 50's vehicle, and stock engine. Grandmas car for the store run, it would be fine. :LOL:

Ahh,I see you understood the point I was trying to make Grasshopper.
10-23-2005, 04:15 PM
erik erikson

Quote:

Originally posted by pizzi-man
Do you know what a bypass is? Too much oil pressure can cause
problems to and that's why they have those spring loaded bypasses incorperated in the oil pumps. P S It's the oily film that reduces frictionwhich reduces heat and ware

Why does G.M. sell plugged bypass's than?
10-23-2005, 04:30 PM
lt1s10

pizzi-man, your right about the hyd. lifter. most of the time I've found the lifters to rattle long before the rods knock, but for a built up motor the pressure is to low. :cool:
10-23-2005, 04:36 PM
pat mccarthy

boy if you think that you need 10 psi for every 1000 for something mild you are way off for it to run ?more psi to apoint takes hp to run that pump and eats cam gears .yes yes yes that what you need on a mild small block 70 psi cold at idle and some thing that will not need to see the hi side of 5000 ???? have had alot of big block that had 65 psi and went to 7500 and with low valve sring psi how much oil dose it take to keep the lifter up ??
10-23-2005, 04:44 PM
erik erikson

Quote:

Originally posted by pat mccarthy
boy if you think that you need 10 psi for every 1000 for something mild you are way off for it to run ?more psi to apoint takes hp to run that pump and eats cam gears .yes yes yes that what you need on a mild small block 70 psi cold at idle and some thing that will not need to see the hi side of 5000 ???? have had alot of big block that had 65 psi and went to 7500 and with low valve sring psi how much oil dose it take to keep the lifter up ??

He never really states how mild or wild the engine is. After all this is a Club Hot Rod forum one would think he would have a semi-radical engine.
10-23-2005, 04:53 PM
pizzi-man

My LT1 is sitting on the dock waiting for me to pick it up. I've got the fan kit waiting to be installed and next week I will have the 350 turbo with OD. What I need now is a good and reasonable priced wiring kitfor the car, not the motor. I get all this together and I will tell you what the oil pressure should be in a built up motor. If I hear them lifters making noise you can be sure I'll be checking my oil;)
10-23-2005, 04:54 PM
pat mccarthy

ok that would be a good point .so if he is try to make hi hp at 6000 + why have a hyd cam in it? and he need to find if the oil gauges is good? and if this car is running hot try some new oil in it and filter and if this dose not work and he needs to find out what he as for a pump and if stock. go to hv oil pump
10-23-2005, 04:58 PM
pat mccarthy

Quote:

Originally posted by erik erikson
He never really states how mild or wild the engine is. After all this is a Club Hot Rod forum one would think he would have a semi-radical engine.

there is alot of guys out there think a cam and set of header and a intake make them race:HMMM:
10-23-2005, 05:06 PM
erik erikson

Quote:

Originally posted by pat mccarthy
there is alot of guys out there think a cam and set of header and a intake make them race:HMMM:

You are right there.I saw a purple 57 chevy and assumed maybe he had something radical.I guess the hyd. cam might of given it away. What is it they say about the word assume?L.O.L.Did I mention the 57 Chevy is purple.
10-23-2005, 05:28 PM
erik erikson

I think there might of been a song about this.I think it goes something like this.I've got a 57 Chevy with 4 on the floor, glass-packs,cheater slicks 454. I'm just a red-blooded fun loving all American boy. O.K. so he does'nt have the big block.It is still a cool song.L.O.L.
10-23-2005, 05:34 PM
pat mccarthy

i can fix that for him rigth fast:whacked:

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