Oil Pressure at Idle
 

My oil gauge drops to L when at idle. Then comes up to center of gauge while driving. Dipstick reads full so I haven't worried much.

Just curious where everyone else's gauge reads at idle.
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Re: Oil Pressure at Idle
 

My 72 is the same way. 350 engine. Not sure on rpm's at idle.
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Re: Oil Pressure at Idle
 

Mine does the same. If im not mistaken a sb chevy needs 8psi per 1000 rpms minimum. I have never read it anywhere but a buddy told me that has built race engines all his life. Mine when hot idels about 15-20psi

Re: Oil Pressure at Idle
 

Same, right around 22lbs hot at idle.

What weight of oil are you running?

Re: Oil Pressure at Idle
 

If memory serves me right, small block Chevy's should idle right around 25-30 p.s.i. Weight of oil will effect this. A stock pump put's out this much. I prefer to run a straight 30 weight with these older motors, that's what was recommend back then. Colder temperature run a multiweight oil. I run a high pressure, high volume pump in my '70 El Camino small block 350. It runs around 30-40 p.s.i. at idle, about 50-60 at highway speeds, I've been running this type of pump for years in a lot of my small blocks, dosn't effect them at all.

Re: Oil Pressure at Idle
 

Before pulling my 402 It was around 20-25 lbs at Idle :chevy:

Re: Oil Pressure at Idle
 

10 psi for every 1,000 rpm.

Re: Oil Pressure at Idle
 

old hi milage small block chevys it is VERY VERT COMMON to have little to no oil pressure at idle and have the engine run just fine for a few hundred thousand at that point and beyond

Re: Oil Pressure at Idle
 

:agree:Thats what I've always heard... I have a 72 nova that had a mild 350. The guy I got it from assembled the engine himself. It had 60psi while driving but the only thing that bothered me about it was that the oil pressure would drop to about 10psi at idle after long drives. One day while getting on it going down a freeway on ramp it blew the front main seal. I towed it home & pulled the engine to put in a one piece oil pan gasket. When I pulled the pan I noticed that the oil pump pick-up had been touching it so it was being starved of oil. Every rod & crank bearing was showing copper & the crank was scored. To make a short story long I'm not trying to scare you but this is just something to think about.

Re: Oil Pressure at Idle
 

Before my oil change the needle in my stock gauge would be about 1/4 below the first line. I just changed my oil and filter using 10w-30w dino oil (previous oil was the same) and I went from a Fram HP to a Wix filter and now after several heat cycles with the engine at operating temp, my in gear idle (600rpm) oil pressure is a little past (1/4) the first line. I had 918 miles on the oil when I changed it so I dont think it was the oil. I plan on buying Wix filters in the future!

Re: Oil Pressure at Idle
 

Until the bypass valve relief spring kicks in and it starts dumping excess oil back into the system. Usually around 60psi. The idiot light (no gauge) doesn't come on until the pressure drops below 5psi or so.

Re: Oil Pressure at Idle
 

Just put oil gauge on. My gauge doesn't read hardly at all until I stop. Do you think something is wrong? I was running it without a gauge connected.

Re: Oil Pressure at Idle
 

I just cranked my new motor for the first time and it running 80 at an idle

My build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=468622
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Re: Oil Pressure at Idle
 

On a hot georgia day after xway driving, mine is 40lbs at speed and 15 at the red light on the exit ramps, touch the gas and back up to 40. thats using 20-50 mobile 1 full syn.

Re: Oil Pressure at Idle
 

One way to check idle oil pressure is to remove valve covers and make sure each rocker arm is getting oil. 10 psi per 1000 rpm is a good rule of thumb provided gauge is accurate, oil galleys are clean and clearances are reasonable.

Re: Oil Pressure at Idle
 

I thought the same thing about mine...it idles about 600 rpm... but at 600 rpm, it only needs 6 psi of oil pressure... given the 10 psi per 1,000 rpm rule of thumb... i changed the oil from 10w-30 to 15w-40 just because i didnt like the low oil pressure, but it didnt change the idle oil pressure any that i could tell(stock gauge) lol

Re: Oil Pressure at Idle
 

small block chevy don't need much at idle, if it ain't knocking you have oil pressure;)

Re: Oil Pressure at Idle
 

Mine sits at 30-45 at idle.
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Re: Oil Pressure at Idle
 

Mine is scary low at full temperature idle. I have an aftermarket set of gauges (reasonably cheap set). It does not knock and gives no audible signs of stress but will get down to lower than 5. Currently running Castroil 10-30 and a Wix filter. Stock gauge is also hooked up and reads about a 1/4 when at idle. I have been slightly worried but knowing it does not take much to keep it lubricated properly. Mine is a SB 350.