Oil Pressure

[Chevy305]

So I drove up the highway today for about 3 exits (15mins) and I noticed the oil pressure at the normal 30 lbs, but when I got off the high way and was waiting for the light to change on the off ramp, I noticed my oil pressure fell very low down to like 10. The light changed and I stared driving again, and it went back up to about 25. Under normal conditions at idle the oil pressure is at about 20-25.

I know my engine is a little tired but does this mean the oil pump is going?

 

[mrk5]

Check the oil level. I've let an engine get low enough that it affected the pressure.

For me it meant I was like a quart and a half low.

 

[R77K10]

only need 7 psi per 1k rpm

yours sounds fine and typical

 

[sweetk30]

mine was good in my 83. but the sender would leak just a bit. so i replaced it and gained 5 psi per 1k rpm. and thay say 10 psi for every 1k rpm for avarge motor.

 

[FOR MUD]

Is it a factroy gauge ? it could be wrong . try a mech gauge instead

 

[Chevy305]

Is it a factroy gauge ? it could be wrong . try a mech gauge instead

It is an aftermarket mechanical gauge. So that is normal to allow oil pressure to drop that low? just seems like it should be higher.

The oil level was just slightly below normal so I put in an oz or two.

I might have found an oil leak (if that is related) at the rear passengerside between the head and the block, or maybe the intake and block. Not sure but I was going to repalce the intake manifold soon anyway.

 

[FOR MUD]

I was thinking more along the lines of a hand held press gauge [ 0-100 psi ] with a hose and an adaptor threaded into press port it takes the quess work out . 8-10 psi at 800-1000rpm is good . If I rememeber right the oil press is taken from the main bearing , I think??

 

[Chevy305]

how come the oil pressure on newer cars is more like 40?

 

[Teamstatic2001]

oil pressure is fine that low getting off the highway, i had a friend with a fresh rebuilt 400 that had a new oilpump no leaks ran 10w-30 and the engine was plastigages when rebuilt when he got off the highway from 70 with a turbo 350 oil pressure was about 15, same with my buddys 2000 5.3 and 98 350

 

[FOR MUD]

what at idle? If so at speed it would be 120psi

 

[Chevy305]

what at idle? If so at speed it would be 120psi

at normal idle, the gauge reads 20-25 lbs. Normal cruising is like 30ish and it surprised me when I got off the highway to find my oil pressure at about 10. Then when I started driving again it hit about 25 or so.

The highest I have ever seen the oil pressure was about 50 lbs because it was very cold and I was on the gas very hard at higher rpms. When at running temp maybe 30-35 at most at high rpm.

 

[Chevy305]

ttt

 

[sunnyc123abc]

mine is always at 60 and about 40 at idle. is that a bad thing , maybe my guage is bad.

 

[1985_K5_Silverado]

I'm normally at ~50 psi (fast idle) right after a cold start, 30-40 psi at idle when all warmed up (35-40 idling in P/N, 30-35 idling in gear), and around 45 psi when cruising on the highway at 2,000 rpm @ 70 mph.

 

[Chevy305]

I thought my oil pressure was lower than most. Is a new oil pump a fix for this?