oil pressure

[WVUFELLA]

Hey guys i ahve a 440 with dome pistons 484 cam and some other small things. I am just now gettin to the point where i can move it around on its own. However i noticed at idle the oil pressure is 20psi of course as soon as you touch the throtlle it shoots up. Would this be becuase of the cam. I thought that with a moderate size cam..... that might cause the engine to lose oil preesure during idle. dont knwo for sure jus what i thought... please send your thoughts... thansk guys

[moper]

The pump is driven off the crank, so the oil pump's volume is dependant on the rpm of the engine. At idle, the pump isnt moving much oil, so the pressure you read is lower. As long as it has 15-20psi hot at idle, and it increases the second the engine revs at all, it's fine.

[WVUFELLA]

hey thanks alot thats what i thought but i wanted to ask the proverbial dumb question just to make sure.

[AMXguy]

 This isn't true on newer engines but the old rule of thumb is 1 lb per hundred RPM + 10 lbs. so at 3500 rpm you should have at least 45lbs, 35+10. 

[cudabob496]

Increase the idle a little