Oil Pressure being low..

It'll be fine at those pressures. Don't sweat it.

My 5.0 NA has 50psi at idle cold, 60psi if above 1600rpms cold. Once warmed up idle drops to 26ish psi, 45 while driving (1500+rpms).
My friends chevy (yeah I know they are diff) cold psi was around 15.. ended up his block wasn't assembled correctly.
Your car has good pressure at cold, and while driving, so I wouldn't see any problems with that.
Although, it would worry me too if my car dropped that low when running at operating temps. I don't have money to fix my car lol
I also run valvoline 30w

With a high volume pump that sounds about right.

I went from a stock oil pump 28-30psi warm idle, to a Melling high volume which dropped it to around 15-18psi warm idle. I say Volume>pressure.

As long as you have 10lb per 1000 RPM you should be fine.

Joe, according to my engine builder the High Volume pump may have been the reason mine let go.. he made me buy an aftermarket stock pump..

did you change the pump or is it the same pump you had in the car b4 you did the head and headgasket etc.. ? if your seeing less pressure that you were with the same pump something might be getting loose.:twocents:. anywho.. let me know if i can help..

add some 90w get errr done lol

QTRPNDR said:

Joe, according to my engine builder the High Volume pump may have been the reason mine let go.. he made me buy an aftermarket stock pump..

did you change the pump or is it the same pump you had in the car b4 you did the head and headgasket etc.. ? if your seeing less pressure that you were with the same pump something might be getting loose.:twocents:. anywho.. let me know if i can help..

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It is the same pump the car has had since I got it. My fear is that it is dropping because something is starting to get loose. The car used to see about 18psi but that was also during colder months. I guess I'll just continue to hope that it holds together.

locowill said:

add some 90w get errr done lol

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haha love you Will but I think i'll try the 40w before moving all the way to 90w:lol:

finchstang said:

It is the same pump the car has had since I got it. My fear is that it is dropping because something is starting to get loose. The car used to see about 18psi but that was also during colder months. I guess I'll just continue to hope that it holds together.

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not sure the thicker oil is the best way to go.. once it's pumped to the top of the motor it takes even longer to get back down to the pump.. :banghead: never ending cycle.. but, 18psi at idle seems really low on a SBF.. i've heard you can get away with low oil pres. on a SBC but i don't like to see less than 25-30 at the stop light.. you might call and ask Chris Groves (Dyno Edge 299-3313) he will have a better answer for you.. wish i could help more..

I raced sean in his vett a few years ago and missed a shift and my pressure went down Idle pressure when cold was around 60... 40ish while driving and 12 to 15 at idle but prior to that 35 or so hot at idle come to find out that #2 main spun just enough to block part of the oil hole. not saying that is the problem or not but... what was your oil pressure prior to your rebuild. did you use the same pump and bearings?

I would put some 10w40 in it and a quart of Lucas.

spdfrk said:

I raced sean in his vett a few years ago and missed a shift and my pressure went down Idle pressure when cold was around 60... 40ish while driving and 12 to 15 at idle but prior to that 35 or so hot at idle come to find out that #2 main spun just enough to block part of the oil hole. not saying that is the problem or not but... what was your oil pressure prior to your rebuild. did you use the same pump and bearings?

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The only thing that was changed was the headgasket, intake gasket, and put head studs in. Motor didnt let go, just a headgasket.

Trey said:

The only thing that was changed was the headgasket, intake gasket, and put head studs in. Motor didnt let go, just a headgasket.

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There wasn't any water in the oil was there?

I am not sure. I was not there when the Oil was drained.

Trey said:

I am not sure. I was not there when the Oil was drained.

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Did we ever find out if this was going on before the HG went?

how much oil do you have in the motor at the moment mine did the same thing come to find out i was burning it and it was 3 qts low if not more

Yes when I drained the oil after the HG failure it was full of water. I changed the oil, let the car idle for 20 minutes, and then changed the oil again..

472BigBlock said:

Did we ever find out if this was going on before the HG went?

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It usually does it right before a oil change.. that is something svo90 just reminded me of..

svo90 said:

how much oil do you have in the motor at the moment mine did the same thing come to find out i was burning it and it was 3 qts low if not more

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I don't have a dipstick but the car does always run less oil pressure right before I change the oil.. I'll definitely change the oil and see just how much oil comes out.

finchstang said:

I don't have a dipstick

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Why don't you have one?

Some of these engine builders refuse to put them in. I disagree. I think it is some sort of ploy to make you change the oil or something. Screw that. Install a dipstick. Maybe one of the turbo guys can tell us if there is a problem running a dipstick.