Oil pressure...how low is too low?

[GMC1tondually4dr]

Another answer; run it till it blows up, then put a little more oil pressure in the next one

(that's a joke, I hope you people took it as one).

I've built numerous BBC & SBC street and drag race engines.

[Destructo]

Unless one is going to throw a rod I run um till their dead. If its going to get rebuilt by me i'm not paying to machine all the old stuff, it will get a new rotating assembly anyway. I get about 10 on my 350 at idle with 10w-30, about 40 psi running down the highway.

[Grim Reaper]

I ran one fore a year that made 3psi hot idle. Never rattled a lifter. Was running fine. It was thrust bearings on that motor. I think the PO installed the harmonic with a hammer and that was the cause.

Main bearings are cheap. If it's a other wise good running engine with good compression then tossing some bearings it it will buy you a couple more years out of it.

[screwballl]

Originally Posted by Destructo

I get about 10 on my 350 at idle with 10w-30, about 40 psi running down the highway.

thats about what i usually run with my tired 350. on the real hot days if its been running for longer than 30 mins then it will drop lower and starts idling like **** so i try to keep it moving and not idling once its completely warmed up

[nn2004]

Originally Posted by screwballl

thats about what i usually run with my tired 350. on the real hot days if its been running for longer than 30 mins then it will drop lower and starts idling like **** so i try to keep it moving and not idling once its completely warmed up

Mine does this too, and I cannot figure out why really. Once it's warm, it does not like to be stopped at a light. My truck runs the opposite from y'alls. Mine runs about 45 psi idle, according to the ghetto GM factory gauge. The 83 I drove for awhile did the same though, so Im not concerned.