I noticed that when I idle for a bit or am at lower revs the oil pressure drops a bit (the needle points at the O in Oil on a 66 Gauge). When the revs go up though and I'm moving, the oil pressure goes back up again (to the L in Oil). Is this normal or is it the sign of something to come. We just got some engine work done (new heads) so it'd be nice to avoid more shop work, but I know oil systems are nothing to mess with. Any ideas?
Oil Pressure Varies, WTF?
- Thread starter xj220
- Start date
krash kendall
Active Member
Is this a new problem that started after the work was done or did it always do this? Your awareness may have increased after the work so that you are noticing things you didn't before.
Does the pressure drop when you cut sharp corners (sloshing oil) as well? Do you ever hear the valve train tapping? Do you know the actual PSI?
A shop can hook up a master guage to get the pressure and give you a definite answer.
Does the pressure drop when you cut sharp corners (sloshing oil) as well? Do you ever hear the valve train tapping? Do you know the actual PSI?
A shop can hook up a master guage to get the pressure and give you a definite answer.
Oil pressure should drop a bit when the engine is at idle or at low revs. Under load or at higher revs pressure should return to normal higher readings on the guage. If it drops more than you have noticed before, it could be the type of oil you are using. A thinner oil can cause pressure to drop more than usual.
I'm home on break right now so it could be something that's normally happening and I'm just not used to it. The engine sounds find at all times. One reason we got new heads was because the old ones were so damaged they were unrepairable. I'm wondering if some metal shavings would've gotten into the pan and clogged up the filter a bit. I was more just wondering if this sort of thing was common or if I should keep a heads up. Thanks.
A drop in oil pressure over time generally indicates bearing wear. As the clearance between the bearing and crank journal increases, less back pressure is produced since the oil squirts through more easily. This is most noticeable at low revs. At higher revs the oil pump pumps more oil volume, which brings the pressure back up.
Similar threads
