40 psi at idle?

[crushnut]

Is it good, bad, or ok?

 

[SuperDave]

Uncertain of what you mean. 40 PSI where?

 

[gp001]

Your tires should have the max psi printed on them

 

[SuperDave]

40 PSI tire pressure at idle is somewhat excessive, eh?

 

[crushnut]

Oops Im a goober, sorry guys i was refering to oil pressure

 

[SuperDave]

40 PSI oil pressure at idle is great providing you are using an accurate gauge.

 

[crushnut]

It is a brand new mechanical guage that i installed today. Why wouldn't it be accurate, now you got me worrying

BTW- It is a SunPro guage.

 

[65stang289]

Mine puts out 60psi is that too much.

 

[SuperDave]

65stang289: I'd say 60 PSI leans toward excessive but it depends upon the temperature of the engine and the viscosity of the oil. A cold engine with heavy-weight oil will read high on the gauge.

 

[65stang289]

ok good because I get 60 went I start it but then it drops down to 40psi when it warms up. I dont know much about how the oil thing works.
Thanks

 

[pabear89]

ok good because I get 60 went I start it but then it drops down to 40psi when it warms up. I dont know much about how the oil thing works.
Thanks

Yours is in a good range.

PB

 

[zookeeper]

The rule of thumb used by some engine builders (Smokey Yunick being one of them) is 10 lbs for every 1000 RPM's. Any more any you're wasting power to make excessive oil pressure, any less and you risk engine damage.

 

[crushnut]

The rule of thumb used by some engine builders (Smokey Yunick being one of them) is 10 lbs for every 1000 RPM's. Any more any you're wasting power to make excessive oil pressure, any less and you risk engine damage.

Thats for driving, isnt it? What about just at idle?

 

[Realmongo]

My new engine has 40# @ idle and about 60 # while crusing.

 

[D.Hearne]

It is a brand new mechanical guage that i installed today. Why wouldn't it be accurate, now you got me worrying

BTW- It is a SunPro guage.

Just remember Super Dave's saying-- Good's not Cheap, and Cheap's not Good!!! 40 psi oil pressure at idle is fine.

 

[zookeeper]

Thats for driving, isnt it? What about just at idle?

That's for anytime the engine is running, period. Although I've read that on ceratin engines (Ford's SOHC 427 for one) that anytime the oil pressure gets lower than 60 lbs, shut it off to avoid serious damage. Also, big-block Chevys seem to prefer a bit more oil pressure, since they have a tendency to ruin cams with low oil pressure, even though the 427 in my wife's car idles at 35 psi, and has since the motor was new and is doing quite well. But as far as real-world use, and racing use according to Smokey, 10lbs per 1000rpms is fine.

 

[Realmongo]

That's for anytime the engine is running, period. Although I've read that on ceratin engines (Ford's SOHC 427 for one) that anytime the oil pressure gets lower than 60 lbs, shut it off to avoid serious damage. Also, big-block Chevys seem to prefer a bit more oil pressure, since they have a tendency to ruin cams with low oil pressure, even though the 427 in my wife's car idles at 35 psi, and has since the motor was new and is doing quite well. But as far as real-world use, and racing use according to Smokey, 10lbs per 1000rpms is fine.

When I worked at a Chevrolet dealer back in the '70s, GM was only concerned with 7# of pressure at idle. Scarry thought, but that is all they required.

 

[mdjay]

When I worked at a Chevrolet dealer back in the '70s, GM was only concerned with 7# of pressure at idle. Scarry thought, but that is all they required.

Most engine builders will agree with ZooKeep and Reelmongo. It sounds like these guys are running high volume oil pumps and there are arguements both ways. Personally I went with a stock volume rated pump even though I have a crap load of horsepower in my 302. I think its more important to get a pre-oiler to eliminate dry starts than to run that high of pressure on a regular basis.. Too high of oil pressure can do a lot of damage to seals and such!

 

[mustangracer]

RTM...

Ford manual specifies 30-50 PSI at 2000 rpm...so 40 at idle sounds fine.

I run a HV pump and my pressure runs about 50 at anything over idle.

 

[Edbert]

Don't confuse a high volume pump with a high pressure pump. I'm not saying you did, just making the distinction.