Oil Pressure OK?
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 57
Likes: 8
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Oil Pressure OK? 2000 C5 M6. Cam, heads supporting mods including new Melling 295 OEM oil pump. Have driven about 1500 miles since cam install. Running Penzoil Ultra Platinum 5w30. Hot idle oil pressure about 26 psi, hwy cruising about 35 psi, high rpm about 50 psi. Motor has about 55k miles on it. To me this seems ok but I see others posting much higher oil pressures. Planning to change oil later this week and will cut the oil filter to look for glitter. GM spec is minimum 10 psi per 1000 rpm, so I am well above that. What do you think? Is this just an engine with "lowish" oil pressure and not to worry?
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 22,308
Likes: 3,625
From: Central Cal.
I would not worry about it. There ARE those with higher pressures, but within the spectrum of oil pressure, yours is well within the safe zone. These engines do not need as much pressure as the old small blocks. The thinner oils contribute to that, but also get into the tight spaces nearly instantly on cold startup, which is definitely a good thing!
TECH Addict
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 2,628
Likes: 30
Without testing with a calibrated gauge those readings mean nothing more than yes you have good oil pressure. If the Engine is quiet and the oil looks clean I wouldn't give it too much more thought. I am a Professional!
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250k mile 02 Z28 shows ~50 pounds of oil pressure hot and 60 cold with 5w-30 M1. I really doubt a mechanical gauge would show that much.
The oil pressure Gauge in a 4th Gen is one step above the 99+ water temp gauge which pretty much always show 210 degrees unless something is very wrong.
I've seen an LS1 have the oil pressure on the stock gauge flicker and pulse between 20-40 pounds at warm idle with the car running. Short version, turned out the alternator was failing. This was realized when the lights started to flicker a few weeks after the oil pressure bounce was noticed.
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Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 57
Likes: 8
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Thanks guys. I will repost once I cut open the oil filter later this week. Oil on the dip stick looks fine. There is noise from the valve train but I think it is the just the typical sewing machine that many get after cam swap.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 57
Likes: 8
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Changed the oil and filter today. In the bright sun there was some visible very fine gold color sparkle in the bottom of the oil catch pan. Not a ton of metal but there was some. In the filter there was a couple silver particles and one gold color particle. On the magnetic drain plug there was a small amount of grey sludge (which is normal). This is less metal than the first oil change after the cam install, so I am not too worried. Will continue to monitor and consider an oil analysis next change.