Oil pressure cold, hot

[Craig]

What is the "normal" oil pressure at idle cold and then warm/hot.

What is the "normal" oil pressure at 2,000-2,500 rpm.

The oil pressure seems good 35-40 when cold, but once warmed up, drops to 5 psi at idle. I have one of those fancy autometer gauges that reads down to 1 psi. 5 psi just seems way to low.

 

[Craig]

Did some more testing this morning. Oil level full plus an extra qt. Oil type 20-50. Started engine and the cold oil pressure is 38 psi, gauge goes in 2 psi increments.
I let it idle for 15-20 minutes and oil pressure is now 10psi. Driving down the road 25 mph the pressure is 20 psi. (no tach so maybe 1,800 rpms) stop at a stop sign an it drops to 5 psi.

Anybody run a dry sump

 

[ihpartsjeff]

5 pounds is a touch low. What rpm are you idling at? Set the idle to around 750-800 rpm and see if the pressure goes up a bit. I would also run straight 30w or 40w oil as this should bring the oil pressure up a bit.

 

[Craig]

Running 20-50, but have gear lube I could use.

once warmmed up 20-22 psi at freeway speed some around 2,800 rpm. 70-75 mph 2-5 at idle. I put it in neutral keeping the rpm at 1000-1100 to keep it up at 5-6 psi. What brand of cam bearing do you buy when you get an engine kit? Do you sell just cam bearings? Well I guess the next question is can one replace the cam bearing with the lower end in place?

 

[Craig]

Glad I called you yesterday, I will try the 40 wt first

I pulled the pan and here is a pic, you can see the gray matter under the oil when I run my finger through it. Looks like worn bearing matierial. I did not use a magnet to see if it was babbitt or steel, but suspect babbitt. The chunks are just oil pan gasket.