Forced Induction Superchargers | Turbochargers | Intercoolers

Oil pressure at idle

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 6, 2017 | 02:30 PM
  #1  
hillshooter's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 33
Likes: 2
Default Oil pressure at idle

I want to know what people see for oil pressure at idle. I have a 418CI stroker LS3 with twin turbos. I get 30-32 pounds of oil pressure at 220 degrees.

Someone told me at a car meet an LS should never be below 42PSI. Even before I had my big motor I never saw 40 at idle.

Yes I am running the stock pump.
Reply
Old Mar 6, 2017 | 02:55 PM
  #2  
svslow's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
 
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 1,280
Likes: 28
From: Pittsboro, IN
Default

My brand new Silverado barely has 30psi at idle. You are fine.
Reply
Old Mar 6, 2017 | 07:25 PM
  #3  
jimmyg's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,533
Likes: 12
Default

A lot of people get 20-25 at an idle when hot. Yours seems good.
Reply
Old Mar 6, 2017 | 07:46 PM
  #4  
sbcgenII's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,245
Likes: 2
From: Fort hood
Default

Originally Posted by svslow
My brand new Silverad5o barely has 30psi at idle. You are fine.
I hope your dod is turned off.
Reply
Old Mar 6, 2017 | 07:47 PM
  #5  
sbcgenII's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,245
Likes: 2
From: Fort hood
Default

Originally Posted by hillshooter
I want to know what people see for oil pressure at idle. I have a 418CI stroker LS3 with twin turbos. I get 30-32 pounds of oil pressure at 220 degrees.

Someone told me at a car meet an LS should never be below 42PSI. Even before I had my big motor I never saw 40 at idle.

Yes I am running the stock pump.
Your fine.
Reply
Old Mar 7, 2017 | 06:41 AM
  #6  
forcd ind's Avatar
TECH Veteran
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,189
Likes: 293
From: woodbine, md
Default

"Someone told me at a car meet"-yikes
That stuff always scares me, lol-I would be worried about 220 degrees, although things get hot under the hood. I run somewhere in the 30's, stock ported pump with a spacer under the spring. I run 10/30 oil, but not syn.
They used to say 10 PSI per 1000 RPM, as long as pressure is rising and not falling off with RPM.
Reply
Old Mar 7, 2017 | 08:46 AM
  #7  
truckdoug's Avatar
9 Second Club
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (26)
 
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 6,389
Likes: 558
From: Portlandia
Default

years ago I would trust "what someone told me at a swap meet" over "what someone on the internet said"

funny but now the opposite is true.
Reply
Old Mar 7, 2017 | 09:41 AM
  #8  
oscs's Avatar
8 Second Club
iTrader: (19)
 
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,903
Likes: 6
From: Cypress, TX
Default

Originally Posted by forcd ind
"Someone told me at a car meet"-yikes
That stuff always scares me, lol-I would be worried about 220 degrees, although things get hot under the hood. I run somewhere in the 30's, stock ported pump with a spacer under the spring. I run 10/30 oil, but not syn.
They used to say 10 PSI per 1000 RPM, as long as pressure is rising and not falling off with RPM.
220* oil temps after a good long pull are normal. I would worry about that at all.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

10 Reasons Daily Driving a Swap Project SUCKS! (& 1 Reason to Do It Anyway)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

6 Gifts Neither Your Dad Nor Grad Will Shove Into the 'Trinket Drawer'

 Brett Foote
story-2

Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-9

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
Old Mar 7, 2017 | 11:00 AM
  #9  
hillshooter's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 33
Likes: 2
Default

Originally Posted by forcd ind
"Someone told me at a car meet"-yikes
That stuff always scares me, lol-I would be worried about 220 degrees, although things get hot under the hood. I run somewhere in the 30's, stock ported pump with a spacer under the spring. I run 10/30 oil, but not syn.
They used to say 10 PSI per 1000 RPM, as long as pressure is rising and not falling off with RPM.
220 for me is everyday driving. I get way more than that making pulls in the summer. I shut it down when it gets over 240.
Reply
Old Mar 7, 2017 | 01:13 PM
  #10  
camarols1's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (17)
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 699
Likes: 2
From: NW Chicago Suburbs
Default

There's no problem with the oil pressure, but you do need to address your cooling system!
Reply
Old Mar 8, 2017 | 08:59 AM
  #11  
redtan's Avatar
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,764
Likes: 17
From: Belmont, MA
Default

There's no problem with the oil pressure, but you do need to address your cooling system!
Like others have said, that advice is pure baloney. If you as GM directly they say around 10psi per 1000rpm minimum. Now that's a bit extreme, but I wouldn't be worried at all if my oil pressure was at 20 at idle if it went up with RPMs. Up top is where it really matters not at idle where there's almost no load on the engine and bearings.

But as far as cooling, I don't think it's an issue as some of you pointed out. 220* oil temps are perfectly fine, heck I wouldn't want them to get much cooler than that anyway. Oil is designed to work and perform its best at or around 212*...so any less is not really desirable especially if you're beating on the engine.

If your oil was getting into the 270* range I'd start to worry about extra cooling. 220* is perfectly fine.
Reply
Old Mar 8, 2017 | 01:28 PM
  #12  
AutomagicLS1's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
iTrader: (18)
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,429
Likes: 1
From: Spring Hill,Kansas
Default

My motor is 3 1/2 years old and since day one after some heat is in it sometimes I'll see pressure at 27-28 psi idling hot
Reply
Old Mar 9, 2017 | 01:38 AM
  #13  
Blown06's Avatar
8 Second Truck Club
iTrader: (32)
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,181
Likes: 8
Default

I get around 48 hot at idle
Reply
Old Mar 9, 2017 | 12:57 PM
  #14  
SteenH's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 513
Likes: 1
From: Moose Jaw SK, Canada
Default

When my cooling system wasn't keeping up I was seeing around 20psi oil pressure when hot.
The heat bothered me, the "low" oil pressure not so much
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:52 PM.

story-0
10 Reasons Daily Driving a Swap Project SUCKS! (& 1 Reason to Do It Anyway)

Slideshow: 10 reasons daily-driving a swap project might not be for you. Or is it?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-17 09:39:05


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Gifts Neither Your Dad Nor Grad Will Shove Into the 'Trinket Drawer'

Don't get dad new socks or a grill brush this year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 14:55:56


VIEW MORE
story-2
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-18 10:26:23


VIEW MORE
story-3
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-4
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-5
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-6
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-7
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE