Gradually losing oil pressure
Gradually losing oil pressure Approximately 2-3 months ago I put a cam in the car. We replaced oil pump, timing chain and pulley as well. I used cheap 5w-30 oil for break in, and I ran it twice after the cam install for 500 miles each. Oil pressure prior to cam install was right at 38ish idle hot. The last oil swap I changed to synthetic, and as far as I know its the first time the car has ever had synthetic. Oil pressure was fine for a while, but lately it appears that oil pressure is gradually going downhill. Im using Mobil 1 5w-30 now, and the idle pressure started off at a steady 38, but now its approaching 28 at idle. Oil now has about 2500 miles on it. What gives? Possible bad oil pump? O-ring just now starting to have issues? Like I said, it's been fine for 3k miles, and just now starting to have problems. Should I check the oring or try swapping oil back to the cheap 5w-30? I'm at a loss...
I would change oil brand first and go to a 10w30. I tried using Mobil 1 when I had the stock motor and I lost 10 PSI and so did 2 other car that I know... we all switched and all was normal again. If the O ring was fine for a while, theres no reason for it to mess up now. Its not a moving part, its either good or bad. It could be the pump too, but thats a pretty slim chance these days.
If youve rode the car hard and it has alot of miles, it may be the bearing going bad...
If youve rode the car hard and it has alot of miles, it may be the bearing going bad...
TECH Veteran
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,055
Likes: 1
From: Hartsdale, NY
i have the opposite problem - after swapping my oil pressor switch my oil pressure is too high.
Try 10-30 mobile one - it tends to give a higher pressure reading. if this does not fix it I would rip the pan and cam cover off and replace the green oil pump o-ring once again.
That blows - but fix it or your motor may be history.
Try 10-30 mobile one - it tends to give a higher pressure reading. if this does not fix it I would rip the pan and cam cover off and replace the green oil pump o-ring once again.
That blows - but fix it or your motor may be history.
Originally Posted by robertbartsch
i have the opposite problem - after swapping my oil pressor switch my oil pressure is too high.
Try 10-30 mobile one - it tends to give a higher pressure reading. if this does not fix it I would rip the pan and cam cover off and replace the green oil pump o-ring once again.
That blows - but fix it or your motor may be history.
Try 10-30 mobile one - it tends to give a higher pressure reading. if this does not fix it I would rip the pan and cam cover off and replace the green oil pump o-ring once again.
That blows - but fix it or your motor may be history.
Originally Posted by Country Boy
Blue O ring
