Question on expected normal oil pressure
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 87
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From: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Question on expected normal oil pressure As the title says, I am wanting to know what is the expected oil pressure range for an LS1 engine.
Specifically, my engine is a 2000 Z28 LS1 with about 82,000 miles on the odometer and is stock internally to the best of my understanding. I purchased the engine from a salvage car so any of that could be bogus.
For oil I decided to go with Mobil 1 full synthetic 5-20 High Mileage.
No idea what was used in the engine for the first 80k miles.
When the engine is cold the gauge indicates about 60-65 psi at startup and runs up to 75-80 psi when driven around cold keeping the RPM between 2000-3000. The one time I go on the expressway immediately after starting the car cold the pressure went up to 85-90 psi according to the gauge.
After warming up with low RPM driving for 15 minutes the oil pressure at idle runs right around 30-35 psi and seems to sit at about 50 psi when driving on the highway at 2500 RPM.
No metal at all on the plug magnet when I changed the oil a couple of weeks ago.
Are the pressure ranges mentioned above within the expected range for an 80K mile LS1 engine in good condition?
FYI, my worry is actually with the high pressure that I am seeing when the engine is cold.
Specifically, my engine is a 2000 Z28 LS1 with about 82,000 miles on the odometer and is stock internally to the best of my understanding. I purchased the engine from a salvage car so any of that could be bogus.
For oil I decided to go with Mobil 1 full synthetic 5-20 High Mileage.
No idea what was used in the engine for the first 80k miles.
When the engine is cold the gauge indicates about 60-65 psi at startup and runs up to 75-80 psi when driven around cold keeping the RPM between 2000-3000. The one time I go on the expressway immediately after starting the car cold the pressure went up to 85-90 psi according to the gauge.
After warming up with low RPM driving for 15 minutes the oil pressure at idle runs right around 30-35 psi and seems to sit at about 50 psi when driving on the highway at 2500 RPM.
No metal at all on the plug magnet when I changed the oil a couple of weeks ago.
Are the pressure ranges mentioned above within the expected range for an 80K mile LS1 engine in good condition?
FYI, my worry is actually with the high pressure that I am seeing when the engine is cold.
The normal hot idle pressure is around 40, but that thin oil you're using probably accounts for the difference. The manual calls for 5W30. Also the stock pressure relief opens around 60, so normally you wouldn't see much higher than that. Maybe your pump spring was shimmed?
I have 2 alum LS engines. Both have the GM perf pump.
My LS1 with 95k on the clock is 28-32 psi hot.
My L33 turbo engine with maybe 2k on the clock is the same.
The LS1 runs Mobil 1 5w30 oil. Sometimes I use the 10w30 extended mileage oil.
The L33 runs redline 10w30.
The alum block engines expand when hot and that increases the main bearing clearance.
Iron blocks behave differently.
Ron
My LS1 with 95k on the clock is 28-32 psi hot.
My L33 turbo engine with maybe 2k on the clock is the same.
The LS1 runs Mobil 1 5w30 oil. Sometimes I use the 10w30 extended mileage oil.
The L33 runs redline 10w30.
The alum block engines expand when hot and that increases the main bearing clearance.
Iron blocks behave differently.
Ron
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