Oil Pressure

[irockidz28]

So since i bought my car a few years ago the oil pressure gauge never read right so a couple weeks ago i finally spent the $20 and got the new sender buttt it cold idle it has around 30 psi and warm idle has mayyyybeee 10 psi if im lucky but it will go right up to 30 again once the rpms get above 1500 i do oil changes about every 1200 miles i have been running 5w-30 but im changing it tomorrow with 10w30 but idk if that will make much of a difference...what do we think it is oil pump?? i really have no idea to be honest it is the original engine with 83,6xx miles

[My84Z]

that is pretty low but aside from maybe checking the oil pump i say keep going see what happens.

[84ta406]

What gauge? Hows it hooked up? I know mine used to leak and I thought the motor was junk. I dont see many OEM sbc pumps fail from back in the day.

[Formula413]

I'm going to answer in a run on sentence just like your post I read that if you 1 PSI of oil pressure per 100 rpm you're ok even though that seems low to me but that's what I read I know my engine fully warmed up at 650 rpm idle can dip as low as about 15 PSI sometimes usually 20 but is around 40-50 cruising if you're not getting any funny noises from the engine I would question whether the reading is accurate and like Josh said it doesn't seem like oil pumps fail that often hope this helps! oh and I tried 10W30 once (using 5W30 now) and it went up a little when cold but that's about it and remember flow lubricates not pressure

[ILuvPizzaTimes10]

10 is KINDA low on a hydraulic roller motor. the lifters will tend to pump down a bit at idle. but if its shooting RIGHT up off idle like as soon as you touch the gas its bouncing up your good. if its sluggish to 1500 or so and then its up around 35-40 get a mechanical gauge. not a aftermarket in dash POS a real mechanical gauge that a garage would use to check it and do so. and if its still reading low and sluggish do a pump before you start getting a rod knock or top end chatter.

[irockidz28]

first off last time i checked this isnt my writing class so i can have as many run on sentences as i want hahaha second, the readings from the gauge is from three seperate (stock) gauges my factory one and two junk yard ones..all three read exactly the same i dont have any noise that i shouldnt have anyways yet and it only gets that low at warm idle even before 900 it is up higher

[84ta406]

I wouldnt trust ANY factory gauges. I've seen more motors lost because those gauges are inaccurate. Get a real gauge like a autometer on there. Mines has 60 psi cold and 50 warm. never seen it drop lower than 35psi on mine.

[ILuvPizzaTimes10]

You must have an hv/hp pump. Mine idles warm at 15-18psi. and that's normal. Don't get an autometeror anything like that unless you want for your car anyway. Get a good mechanical gauge say from a mac tool truck or something along those lines. And be sure you check it at the filter. No noise doesn't mean its not damaging your engine!

[irockidz28]

so how does this mechanical gauge work does it go in the oil line at the oil filter orr?

[ILuvPizzaTimes10]

theres a 1/8th pipe thread plug abpver the filter flange. you may or may not have a sender there. if you do just remove it or the plug and use that as your pressure test point. ive found its the most accurate and easiest location to get the oil pressure from.