Oil pressure: how much is not enough?
Oil pressure: how much is not enough? Hi,
I have a stroker motor and have been noticing my oil pressure getting a little low at idle lately. In the winter time it would idle at around 24-25psi with oil temps in the 200s. Now that the summer is rolling around and the AC is running a lot, I'm seeing oil temps in the 220s and oil pressure around 20-21psi. I idle at about 800rpm.
When should I start getting worried about my pressure? Should I think about a high pressure oil pump? Cruising at 3000RPM my pressure is right around 37-38psi with the same 220s oil temp.
TIA
I have a stroker motor and have been noticing my oil pressure getting a little low at idle lately. In the winter time it would idle at around 24-25psi with oil temps in the 200s. Now that the summer is rolling around and the AC is running a lot, I'm seeing oil temps in the 220s and oil pressure around 20-21psi. I idle at about 800rpm.
When should I start getting worried about my pressure? Should I think about a high pressure oil pump? Cruising at 3000RPM my pressure is right around 37-38psi with the same 220s oil temp.
TIA
Last edited by diynoob; Apr 25, 2005 at 04:22 PM.
Originally Posted by tim99ws6
you're perfectly fine. Unless it dips into the 10-15 or less at idle, it isn't a concern at idle. What kind of pressure are you getting at WOT?
I haven't watched my pressure at WOT. Where should it be? 40-60psi? Is it RPM dependent or throttle position dependent? I could get the car up into the higher RPMs at part throttle today to find out what it reports there -- trying not to go into WOT though since I'm still finishing up my part throttle tuning.
Originally Posted by mikey
Thats low. I build alot of strokers and always above 40 PSI hot at idle. Can you tell me a little about the engine components and clearances?
Callies crank, Lunati rods and Diamond pistons/ring, Clevit77 bearings, Comp cam-lifters-pushrods-timings set, GM oil pump, gaskets and seals.
I am feeding oil from the pressure port to my two turbos, but it's flowing through a -3 line, which I don't think will cause much of a pressure drop... right?
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If you could see a graph of oil pressure throughout a run, you would see it drop from ~60 lbs to around 30 or 40 lbs., depending on the motor, oil types, clearances, temps, etc. A motor will make more power at lower oil pressure.
Last edited by bickelfirebird; Apr 25, 2005 at 05:51 PM.
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For what it's worth, I watched oil pressure at part throttle today in the upper RPMs. At 5K RPM my pressure was 42. At 6K RPM it was about 45.
I am definitely seeing diminishing oil pressure increases as the RPMs go up. I hit about 36psi by about 3K.
Also, this is a TTi turbo kit -- I was told that the -3 line really couldn't affect my oil pressure much, so I doubt my pressure drop is a result of the feed line to the turbos.
Ideas?
I am definitely seeing diminishing oil pressure increases as the RPMs go up. I hit about 36psi by about 3K.
Also, this is a TTi turbo kit -- I was told that the -3 line really couldn't affect my oil pressure much, so I doubt my pressure drop is a result of the feed line to the turbos.
Ideas?
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Well, low oil pressure at idle is a very different matter. In an LS1, I would expect to see higher pressure than you're seeing. There are many potential causes, only one of which is too much bearing clearance. You have now entered a world where a professional engine builder such as Futral, W2W, APE, HPE, Thunder, etc. should be consulted. JMO.
Originally Posted by diynoob
For what it's worth, I watched oil pressure at part throttle today in the upper RPMs. At 5K RPM my pressure was 42. At 6K RPM it was about 45.
I am definitely seeing diminishing oil pressure increases as the RPMs go up. I hit about 36psi by about 3K.
Also, this is a TTi turbo kit -- I was told that the -3 line really couldn't affect my oil pressure much, so I doubt my pressure drop is a result of the feed line to the turbos.
Ideas?
I am definitely seeing diminishing oil pressure increases as the RPMs go up. I hit about 36psi by about 3K.
Also, this is a TTi turbo kit -- I was told that the -3 line really couldn't affect my oil pressure much, so I doubt my pressure drop is a result of the feed line to the turbos.
Ideas?
Last edited by bickelfirebird; Apr 25, 2005 at 06:01 PM.
Is it likely to be a pinched o-ring near the oil pump? Is there any way I can find out for sure? I did replace the o-ring when I did my cam swap, but I suppose it's possible I noobed it up during install...
Originally Posted by bickelfirebird
What have you done to the motor other than change cams?
sorry in advance for the slightly 
post...
I'm glad I read this thread. When I changed heads/cam - I put in a ported ls6 oil pump, and was wondering if it was bad that my oil pressure went up (70+ at WOT and high rpms). Its about 50-60 at idle.
Reading this thread makes me feel better about that. Thanks
post...I'm glad I read this thread. When I changed heads/cam - I put in a ported ls6 oil pump, and was wondering if it was bad that my oil pressure went up (70+ at WOT and high rpms). Its about 50-60 at idle.
Reading this thread makes me feel better about that. Thanks
