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Old Apr 6, 2008 | 12:08 AM
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Default Low oil pressure
Recently I have noticed that my oil pressure at idle when the car is hot is around 15psi. When I rev the car up it goes to about 40psi. I was running 0 30w synethic oil. So I changed the oil to 10 40w with no change to my oil pressure. When the car is cold at idle the oil pressure is around 45psi. I am running a stock oil pump. Do our oil pumps go bad like this or would this be more bearing related? If it is the oil pump would you reccomend me to put in a high volume oil pump?

Thanks
Last edited by jrios; Apr 6, 2008 at 12:25 AM.
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Old Apr 6, 2008 | 12:39 AM
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sounds fine to me... remember the generic rule of thumb is 10lbs. of pressure for every 1k rpm

what is it sitting at when your cruising or during idle after its at operating temp?
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Old Apr 6, 2008 | 12:48 AM
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Sounds ok. The factory oil pressure gauges are not all that accurate. I would not be too worried about it, just make sure you always keep the crankcase full at all times.
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Old Apr 6, 2008 | 04:32 PM
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Originally Posted by RrCoX22
sounds fine to me... remember the generic rule of thumb is 10lbs. of pressure for every 1k rpm

what is it sitting at when your cruising or during idle after its at operating temp?
When cruising it sits around 18 to 20 psi. Following the rule of thumb of 10lbs. of pressure for every 1k rpm would work except for when I got on the car the most I saw was 45psi.
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Old Apr 6, 2008 | 04:41 PM
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Mine recently had dropped to about 30psi at hot idle after having lifters and heads installed. They just put in some dino oil, not sure if 10/30 or 5/30. So I changed it back after a few hundred miles to the Supertech 5/30 synthetic I've been running as it ALWAYS stayed at 40psi at idle before. Seems to have gone back, but I'll wait til I drive it more this week before I say that changed anything. Are you talking about your 98 TA?
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Old Apr 6, 2008 | 05:36 PM
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Originally Posted by Redlinez
Mine recently had dropped to about 30psi at hot idle after having lifters and heads installed. They just put in some dino oil, not sure if 10/30 or 5/30. So I changed it back after a few hundred miles to the Supertech 5/30 synthetic I've been running as it ALWAYS stayed at 40psi at idle before. Seems to have gone back, but I'll wait til I drive it more this week before I say that changed anything. Are you talking about your 98 TA?
Yeah the TA.
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Old Apr 6, 2008 | 05:39 PM
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I think I am going to put the SLP high volume pump on just to ensure it is oil properly. Now I know it is a high volume not high pressure but will I see the pressure go up at all or is this a waste of my time and money?

Thanks for all your help
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Old Apr 7, 2008 | 12:18 AM
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at idle mine sits at 40 or so and driving is around 50 . . . 15 at idle seems hella low to me especially with your set-up in your sig
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Old Apr 7, 2008 | 06:42 AM
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i vote replace the pump
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Old Apr 7, 2008 | 08:45 AM
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Replace it, something is wrong. Go melling.
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Old Apr 7, 2008 | 12:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Hell'sChariot
Replace it, something is wrong. Go melling.
Should I go with the stock melling replacement pump or a high volume pump?
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Old Apr 7, 2008 | 12:40 PM
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That oil pressure is pretty damn low. I'm at 50 while driving and 40-45 while at idle. I suggest a high volume pump.
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Old Apr 7, 2008 | 12:43 PM
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Depends on how hot the car is. I know in my car I've seen the Oil PSI as low as 20-25ish while sitting in traffic with the car running warm.
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Old Apr 7, 2008 | 01:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Wsteun
Depends on how hot the car is. I know in my car I've seen the Oil PSI as low as 20-25ish while sitting in traffic with the car running warm.
If I am driving maybe 15 miles than I pull up to a light a idle it will be at 15psi right away on a 75 degree day.
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