oil pressure too high?
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 597
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From: Tequesta, FL
oil pressure too high? So I bought this 00 SS a month or so ago, ended up replacing the valve cover gaskets (they were leaking) found that inside the engine was gunked up some, not extremely bad but noticeable. So I ran some sea foam through it and changed the oil and filter with 10W30. Before this my oil pressure was at about 25 psi at idle and no higher than 60 while driving. Now I've got 40 to 50 psi at idle (engine warm) and close to 80 if you get on it. This seems like too much to me, so I changed the oil again, used a WIX filter instead of a fram and 5W30 oil, no change to the pressures. The gauge seems to be working properly and does not stick. Any info would be helpful.
Did you know the previous owner? What did the oil that you drained out of it look like?
Could have been that he knew he was selling it, and neglected to change it long enough that it broke down, lowering its viscosity.
Could have been that he knew he was selling it, and neglected to change it long enough that it broke down, lowering its viscosity.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 597
Likes: 9
From: Tequesta, FL
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my car was the same way after a head/head gasket swap, seemed to run alot higher oil pressure but its been running fine for the 2 months after. (knock on wood)
EDIT: never hit 80 tho, i dont think
EDIT: never hit 80 tho, i dont think
Last edited by buddha845; Jan 23, 2008 at 01:52 AM.
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On The Tree
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 181
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From: Central, FL
yeah it's actually running right now.. the pressure shouldn't have been that low in the first place.
Actually I just noticed you said 80psi at WOT... isn't that in the red? That is pretty high alright. I'm sure others can chime in though
Actually I just noticed you said 80psi at WOT... isn't that in the red? That is pretty high alright. I'm sure others can chime in though
it should never really fall below 40psi with 5w30...even in the summer after a long road trip i'll still be seeing 35+
as for the high pressure, you've got to go a long way to do damage with high oil pressure - think hundreds - the worst case senario in your case is a blown seal somewhere. all in all, its nothing to be worried about, with OP its all about higher is better
as for the high pressure, you've got to go a long way to do damage with high oil pressure - think hundreds - the worst case senario in your case is a blown seal somewhere. all in all, its nothing to be worried about, with OP its all about higher is better
I would say that the Seaform did its job also.. cleaned up the oil passage and Oil system.
My stock 99' LS1 with only a LS6 oil pump runs a bit higher than yours at idle and around 80 at speed. (gauge only goes to 80psi LOL).
I would not worry too much.. just watch for oil leaks at the front and rear seal.
My stock 99' LS1 with only a LS6 oil pump runs a bit higher than yours at idle and around 80 at speed. (gauge only goes to 80psi LOL).
I would not worry too much.. just watch for oil leaks at the front and rear seal.
Lemme play devils' advocate for a moment.
Let's say that the seafoam broke free a piece of something that's now lodged in an oil passage somewhere, restricting flow.. You'd see more pressure across the board, since pressure is just resistance to flow..
OTOH, there's not much you can do about it anyway...so just drive it.
Let's say that the seafoam broke free a piece of something that's now lodged in an oil passage somewhere, restricting flow.. You'd see more pressure across the board, since pressure is just resistance to flow..
OTOH, there's not much you can do about it anyway...so just drive it.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Michigan
Lemme play devils' advocate for a moment.
Let's say that the seafoam broke free a piece of something that's now lodged in an oil passage somewhere, restricting flow.. You'd see more pressure across the board, since pressure is just resistance to flow..
OTOH, there's not much you can do about it anyway...so just drive it.
Let's say that the seafoam broke free a piece of something that's now lodged in an oil passage somewhere, restricting flow.. You'd see more pressure across the board, since pressure is just resistance to flow..
OTOH, there's not much you can do about it anyway...so just drive it.
Oh and oil pressure sounds good to me.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 597
Likes: 9
From: Tequesta, FL
Lemme play devils' advocate for a moment.
Let's say that the seafoam broke free a piece of something that's now lodged in an oil passage somewhere, restricting flow.. You'd see more pressure across the board, since pressure is just resistance to flow..
OTOH, there's not much you can do about it anyway...so just drive it.
Let's say that the seafoam broke free a piece of something that's now lodged in an oil passage somewhere, restricting flow.. You'd see more pressure across the board, since pressure is just resistance to flow..
OTOH, there's not much you can do about it anyway...so just drive it.
TECH Addict
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,379
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40 at idle is about the norm for most LSx cars. Going WOT should see it hit 60's if not 70's. I just got complimented by the neighbours on a mean revving engine after I had done my oil change and was blipping the throttle and I had my eye on my PSI the whole time. I got it to blip a little past the 60 mark so probably in the 70's. Never seen 80 PSI though. I'll see what kind of PSI my Monte SS does but I suspect it's similar.
TECH Veteran
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,055
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From: Hartsdale, NY
...pressure guages are not accurate.
...Oil weight has an impact on pressure.
Also, if the last owner changed the faulty factory GM oil pump, and replaced it with a high pressure one, it might cause some of this.
...Oil weight has an impact on pressure.
Also, if the last owner changed the faulty factory GM oil pump, and replaced it with a high pressure one, it might cause some of this.
