kingtal0n

iTrader: (1)

I think 230-240*F is a big high for oil in a performance street car. I am surprised it gets so hot with the cooler. I know some cars run that hot but I would like to see it come down a bit personally if I lived where I live (always hot here). Temp affects viscosity, so at 240* You may see 40psi but at 200*F it might be more.

The clearance of the engines parts directly influences the oil pressure. The OEM clearance calls for a 10W-30 or thinner, in many cases for newer cars (the trend is towards smaller clearances, thinner oils). Whereas if the engine is assembled "loose" with say 0.0025" mains (guessing) it would probably enjoy a 50W oil instead. A loose engine spins high rpm 'nicer' but tends to throw around more juices and doesn't last as long (its more for racing purposes only). Street cars with unnecessarily loose engines have blow-by, consume oil, and more maint. on the street overall.

GTO1_OHIO

iTrader: (3)

I also have a 427 (ERL) and had issues with oil pressure, however mine was low oil pressure at hot idle. Mine is fine at WOT.

What I ended up doing was to try pretty much all weight oils. What I found helped was to keep my oil temperature between 190-210. This was accomplished with Lucas 10w40 semi-synthetic and a fan assisted oil cooler. I later dropped down to Lucas 30w. hot idle with the cooler fan on stays around 28-32 psi at hot idle. 70 at startup. This is on my mechanical gauge. OEM gauge is around 5-7 psi lower.

The problem with a 50 weight is it's too thick to get proper oiling with certain lifters. 10w40 still sounds like a mad washing machine with my lifters until the oil start thinning at temp.

01CamaroSSTx

iTrader: (3)

Running an LSX block with mains around 0.003 oil clearance. I found that the 1/4 clearance from my pick up tube to oil pan was causing a restriction when running a high volume oil pump. The 4th gen f-body oil pan was stroker clearance'd to accept larger stroke cranks and you had to use a Z06 style oil filter on the pan. When the engine came up to operating temp it would idle around 20 psi sometimes 15 psi and would always jump up to 40 psi when you give it throttle but if you would put your foot in it's *** the oil pressure would flat line. Thank god i noticed it and backed off until I made some changes.

I ended up going with the Moroso oil pan set up for the 4th gen f-body which required the Milodon oil filter relocation kit. The kit uses a much larger oil filter and now my oil capacity has increased to 7 qts which to me with these larger displacement engines just makes sense. The engine now idles at 50 psi and runs up near 60 psi cruising around on Valvoline 5w30 conventional with Lucas Zinc additive. I just changed to VR1 10w30 since it's so hot but will go back to the 5w30 when winter gets here. The lifters I purchased recommend 5w30 but have not had issues with 10w30.

This was what solved my issue but there are a number of other things that could be causing you this trouble. Your just going to have to go through everything and check and with any luck you can get those pesty gremlins out and your back on the road again!!!

01CamaroSSTx

iTrader: (3)

Here some pictures of the my set up if anyone's interested.

saccitycorvette

iTrader: (3)

Hi,
Did your builder install new cam bearings? We had this same issue with a 440 ci LS2 so we pulled engine and rod and mains were on the loose side so we tighten them up with new bearings and machine the crank, new melling pump, put everything back together. Went our testing and there was no change. It was pretty good when it was cool but when it got hot as soon as we got up to
4500rpm the pressure would start to drop from 52psi to 6000prm down to 36 and we let off. Didn't dare go to 7000K. Pulled engine again and because cam bearings were the only thing we didn't change we mic them out and they were loose. Put new ones and oil pressure is perfect now. What a PITA! I hear some say its not necessary to change bearings or don't disturb them. Well I'm putting new cam bearings in every build now!

Thanks,
Christian

DietCoke

iTrader: (18)

put some 15-50 or 20-50 in it and forget about it

saccitycorvette

iTrader: (3)

Nice clean setup! Very nice!

Christian

derzvette

I drove the vette back up to WA... It's burning oil due to ingestion and blow-by but some is expected due to build specs. Still runs strong.... Cut another filter and moved up to 15-50w by amsoil.

Not sure how long she will live, but my dad is using her for a weekend driver for fun. I couldn't stand letting the car sit outside in the sun


​​​I'll post again when she goes belly up.

derzvette

All,

Found the root cause of oil pressure issues...

reversed oil barbell that sits above the oil filter.

recommend not going to Hinson motorsports... absolutely terrible experience.

G Atsma

Glad you got that sorted out!
Re: Hinson; not the first time I've heard bad stuff about them....

slogo

[QUOTE=derzvette;19896948]All,

Found the root cause of oil pressure issues...

reversed oil barbell that sits above the oil filter.

recommend not going to Hinson motorsports... absolutely terrible experience.[/QUOTE

So did you loose the engine?

G Atsma

Let's hope not!

derzvette

Nope! Not yet! Making good power / compression / leak down.

Am burning oil pretty good, but i think it was how I had my catch can connected... made some changes... will see how it goes.


Its a pretty nutty car though- super loud, first / second ~3.5k in tunnel/underpass... WOT. = love

stevieturbo

reversed oil barbell ? Surely it can only go in one way ?

ColeGTO

iTrader: (3)

Not if you use a big hammer. Ha Ha

Plus, the o-ring is only on one end so they'd have to shove it in pretty good to get it installed all the way.

stevieturbo

Surely if it was in the wrong way, oil would **** out like **** out the back ?

G Atsma

One would think so.....

ColeGTO

iTrader: (3)

The rear cover gasket should seal it I would think, the rest would just drain down the block/rear cover and back into the pan.

stevieturbo

True enough.

slogo

So in the very first post there was mentioned something about the billet barbell, was that the one that was installed backwards?
or was you saying you was going to put that in? Glad you didn't loose all that money you had tied up in it.