melling question
melling question what's everybody think of the melling 10295 (m295) or melling 10296 (m10296)
its goin on a heads cam bolt ons basics. just figured id see what everybody thought and who all has used either. thanks
- Scottie
its goin on a heads cam bolt ons basics. just figured id see what everybody thought and who all has used either. thanks
- Scottie
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 24,241
Likes: 89
From: Turnin' Wrenches Infractions: 005
everybody on this site screams high volume high pressure. after careful consideration i decided to go with a 295 melling simply bc at 100k my oil pressure is still great and i see no reason to go with the 296. since im doing the cam swap i knew i would be replacing the pump and the pressure relief springs do wear out over time causing pressure to drop off too early. i more then likely would have been fine putting the original pump back on but i opted for an upgrade since i have heard the melling units are designed and built better then the originals.
Use the #10296 pump. By far the best pump out there for the lsx family. Install the BLUE pressure relief spring that comes with it, and clearance the backside of the pump for extra clearance for double roller chain though.
do not hesitate 
As to high pressure/high volume: It has been my experience that the stock units do an excellent job of keeping everything well lubricated and at sufficient pressure. Due to the design characteristics of these engines, an extreme amount of pressure is not really required (priority oiling). IMHO, a high volume pump will do nothing more than create excess drag and crankcase windage. I have an L33 sitting in my garage now that I dismantled at 270K. It held around 15 psi, and after investigation, the relief spring in the pump was determined to be the culprit. Bearing wear, crankshaft scoring etc. was almost completely without evidence, and the crosshatches were still visible in the bores. 270K mind you. My pickup, at 195k has no problem maintaining at least 40 psi. Do you really need more than that?
