304 Normal Oil Pressure

Soft_Click

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Since posting about finding big metal pieces in the oil pan of my 1966 1200A SV304 engine, I took @Scoutboy74’s advice and plumbed a mechanical oil pressure gauge.

The pressure gauge is working well and reading 44psi at idle. I think the main purpose of this gauge is to notice when oil pressure inevitably plummets dramatically from the failed cam shaft bearings, but in the meantime I wanted to check with you guys. Is 44psi okay?
 
IH SV-8 engines Oil Pressure: 10 psi per 1,000 RPM.

What oil weight are you utilizing ?
What is your idle RPM ?
What Oil Filter is utilized ?
 
Thanks, @1975IH200, that's really helpful! My stock oil pressure gauge read high too, but I didn't trust it. Maybe it is high?

I started it up with just fuel in the bowl, but no fuel tank so I didn't have a chance to get it warm. I think my high idle is around 1000-1500. My tach is not very accurate. My idle RPM was set with a timing gun around 600RPM, but I didn't let it drop down. Maybe I should wait for the fuel tank before testing.

My oil is 40w
My idle RPM is 600, but 44 psi was the reading at high idle.
My Oil Filter is WIX 51156
 
I always run 10W-30 oil.
The IH engine oil system is a high flow-system. Using thick motor oil adds resistance to flow, which increases oil pressure.
but It does not increase oil flow, it decreases oil flow.
Having a good tach-dwell meter to determine engine RPM while tuning or checking the engine is very useful.
Idle RPM should be in the 650-725 range in neutral (manual trans) or in drive (automatic trans).
Oil Filter: NAPA 1515, WIX 51515, Motorcraft FL-1 are all good oil filters and are readily available.

Try the 10W-30 at next oil change.
 
I’ll try the 10-30 at next change, I was going off the manual I think.
Also that WIX 51515 won’t fit my engine. It’s got the big steel cartridge style.
 
Oh, yes OK. That why I didn't recognize the filter p/n.
I should have clicked on it.
WIX filters and NAPA filters are the same filters. NAPA drops the first digit '5' from the number on theirs.
 
Yes, the single viscosity 40 is too heavy. These days I prefer to run 15w-40 diesel engine oil due to the fact that the ZDDP levels in conventional motor oils is been drastically reduced over the past decade or more. The diesel oils like Delo etc still have about 1200 ppm of ZDDP. ZDDP is an abbreviation of that stands for a blend of molecules that from a crucial sacrificial barrier between tight tolerance metals such as cam bearings cam lobes. These old school, flat tappet, push rod engines need that ZDDP. Cam shafts and cam bearings can fail prematurely without it. Of course you can play shade tree chemist by adding ZDDP additives from STP and others to your conventional oil, but I prefer to use what's already been blended by the pros. 15W-40 is great in older gas engines.
Now, what you should see on your oil pressure gauge when the engine has worked up a good, hot lather and it's idling at true curb idle, is the oil pressure drop considerably from your cood engine reading. Like Scott said, if you see at least a steady 10 psi then, that's plenty. The other time to be really mindful of your pressure is during a sustained highway cruise where the engine is running @ 2800 revs for minutes at a time. Again, your gauge should be showing at least a steady 30 psi then. If the gauge needle fluctuates noticeably to the point that you even begin to here lifters tapping, that's an indication of top end oil starvation that could well be the result of one or more failed cam bearings.
 
You need to check oil pressure at full operating temp and oil temp. Typical 304 hot idle oil 500-600 rpm pressure is around 10-15 psi. If you are seeing full temp idle oil pressures it indicates an anomaly. I did not read SB74's post.. some of this is DTDH stuff. :arf:
 
Sorry I missed these replies! I guess if you don’t clear the notification, you don’t get emails on new replies?
Anyways this is great info, I got the engine nice and hot and the pressure dropped down to around 10-15 at idle, so I think it’s in good shape for now.
Bummer about 40W, I really can’t trust the manual for anything!
 
Actually the manual can be trusted for a great many things. Torque values don't change. Wiring diagrams don't change. I could go on and on with similar examples. Lubrication technology, however has advanced dramatically since the time these vehicles were new.
 
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