Author Topic: What's good oil pressure at idle when warmed up?  (Read 26481 times)

Offline EMCD

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What's good oil pressure at idle when warmed up?
« on: September 15, 2011 - 08:53:54 PM »
I'm at 10-15 psi at idle. Is that sufficient?




Offline 72cudamaan

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Re: What's good oil pressure at idle when warmed up?
« Reply #1 on: September 15, 2011 - 08:56:15 PM »
Kinda low but the standard is 10# per 1000 rpm
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Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: What's good oil pressure at idle when warmed up?
« Reply #2 on: September 15, 2011 - 09:51:26 PM »
I LIKE TO HAVE 25 or better at idle

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Offline Cooter

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Re: What's good oil pressure at idle when warmed up?
« Reply #3 on: September 15, 2011 - 10:45:44 PM »
Depends.....

Idling in gear?
Rebuilt engine?
Stock, high mileage engine?
High Volume Oil pump?
High Pressure oil Pump?
Reading from the electric dash gauge?
Reading from a mechanical gauge?


As a rule of thumb, A "Stock" Engine according to GM when I worked for them in the early 90's, stated that it took 3 1/2 Pounds to turn off the oil press. light, and 5-10 Psi At a Hot idle in gear was considered by the "Factory engineers" to be "good"...
I guess that must be why so many 305's and 307's became famous for eating camshafts?

I like to see around 25 PSI on a "Stock" engine that is well maintained. However, most today aren't and I typically see around 10-15 With a manual gauge.

On my Engines I have rebuilt, I like to typically see around 30-45 Psi hot idle With a High Vlume oil pump. As with more volume, comes a little more pressure.
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Offline EMCD

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Re: What's good oil pressure at idle when warmed up?
« Reply #4 on: September 15, 2011 - 10:51:57 PM »
Completely rebuilt 360 with a melling high output oil pump.

Offline mopar12372

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Re: What's good oil pressure at idle when warmed up?
« Reply #5 on: September 15, 2011 - 11:00:03 PM »
I would say  no BUT you never said what the pressure is at 1000 or so rpm  hot .  does the engine have alot of blow bye.
i have a engine  with 245.ooo or so miles on it bone stock with  26psi hot idle 45 psi hot above 1000 . 
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Offline 74 challenge

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Re: What's good oil pressure at idle when warmed up?
« Reply #6 on: September 16, 2011 - 07:54:36 AM »
I like mine to have 25 aswell.

Mine is a bone stock 318 with 46,000 miles. This is the reading taken with a hot engine at idle from a mechanical guage.
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Offline spamtank

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Re: What's good oil pressure at idle when warmed up?
« Reply #7 on: September 16, 2011 - 07:59:58 AM »
All that said, what is the approximate oil pressure for the hash marks of the rallye dash oil pressure gauge?   :clueless:
Rick, Manchester, NH
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Offline EMCD

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Re: What's good oil pressure at idle when warmed up?
« Reply #8 on: September 16, 2011 - 08:21:25 AM »
Does it make any difference that I'm at a mile high?

Offline EMCD

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Re: What's good oil pressure at idle when warmed up?
« Reply #9 on: September 16, 2011 - 08:42:16 AM »
I'm getting that reading from new auto meter gauges when the car is in drive. Throughout driving the oil pressure looks great. I don't think I have any blow by. Can you turn up the oil pressure?

Offline Strawdawg

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Re: What's good oil pressure at idle when warmed up?
« Reply #10 on: September 16, 2011 - 09:34:26 AM »
15 psi is plenty at a normal idle, but, most Mopars that I have seen have more than that which I think is a result of the oil pump design.  Assuming a good pump and normal clearances on the bearings, I would expect at least 25.

Other than the weight of the oil, there is no way to increase the pressure once the engine is assembled...not the idle pressure.  The bypass spring controls the high pressure side, not the low pressure side-but, if the bypass is not closed all the way under the spring pressure, then the pump would bypass at idle and the pressure will be low.

I would expect a hv pump to have a lot of pressure, however.  Pressure is basically the resistance to flow so that one would expect it to be higher when using a hv pump at low rpm than with a standard pump.  Normally, a healthy engine will jump the oil pressure immediately when the engine is revved whereas one will problems will usually lag when blipping the throttle-referring to watching the needle on the gauge

Low oil pressure can result from excessive clearances in the engine.  A missing galley plug, too light an oil weight, leak in the pick up tube that allows air to be sucked, a restricted pick up screen whether by debris or too close to the pan, excessive clearances in the pump, etc.  Of course, not all oil gauges are accurate as well...

Offline EMCD

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Re: What's good oil pressure at idle when warmed up?
« Reply #11 on: September 16, 2011 - 09:41:32 AM »
Cool. I'm at 20-25 all warmed up in park. So, I guess not to gauge oil pressure in drive......

Offline Strawdawg

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Re: What's good oil pressure at idle when warmed up?
« Reply #12 on: September 16, 2011 - 10:37:21 AM »
Idle speed will have a big effect upon it...it can change quite a bit with a couple hundred rpm increase

Offline Katfish

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Re: What's good oil pressure at idle when warmed up?
« Reply #13 on: September 16, 2011 - 11:51:19 AM »
All that said, what is the approximate oil pressure for the hash marks of the rallye dash oil pressure gauge?   :clueless:


Guy on Moparts measured it.

Using an air regulator on the oil pressure sender I started at zero pressure & worked my way up as far as the compressor would go.

The gauge did not register at all at 17 psi then at 18 psi the needle went up to the mark as shown below, the needle wasn't stuck it did the same thing every time I tested it.

Winding up the regulator gave the pressures indicated below but I didn't have enough air pressure to get a reading for the top mark.

Gauges will vary but it gives an idea what pressure you are running.


« Last Edit: September 16, 2011 - 11:53:27 AM by Katfish »

Offline spamtank

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Re: What's good oil pressure at idle when warmed up?
« Reply #14 on: September 16, 2011 - 12:09:34 PM »
Guy on Moparts measured it.

Using an air regulator on the oil pressure sender I started at zero pressure & worked my way up as far as the compressor would go.

The gauge did not register at all at 17 psi then at 18 psi the needle went up to the mark as shown below, the needle wasn't stuck it did the same thing every time I tested it.

Winding up the regulator gave the pressures indicated below but I didn't have enough air pressure to get a reading for the top mark.

Gauges will vary but it gives an idea what pressure you are running.







Excellent.  Thanks for that info!  :cheers:
Rick, Manchester, NH
1970 SE 383 2V AT Challenger
1977 M882/W200 Power Wagon
2013 RT Plus 6M