Oil Pressure

Chiperb · #1 (**permalink**) 07-27-2003, 04:13 PM

Usually have 40 psi when running with oil temp at 200. Today on a drive fell to 32 when warm and stayed there. Hot day, 10W-30 oil. Shold I go to a thicker oil? 10W-40-10W-50/straigt 40? Engine has low hours after a rebuild last year. Why the sudden dop in oil pressure?

I know this has been discussed before, and did do a search, but I am concerned. cb

Rick Bagley · #2 (**permalink**) 07-29-2003, 09:04 AM

My 60 MPH oil pressure is 75PSI, 40PSI at idle. I am running a oil cooler and 8 qt pan so the temp. never exceeds 150 degrees. I would look at 15-50, or 20-50 oil in the summer, then get rid of the stock 5qt pan you have got . With the Unique you can change pans and pick-ups easily. You may want to look at a Canton 8 qt. pan, road race or regular. My thoughts. Drop in oil PSI is a result of the hot oil and not much of it, alot of oil up in the engine.

Robert T. Faust · #3 (**permalink**) 07-29-2003, 09:28 AM

Oil Pressure, huh?? My 428CJ pegs my gauge (goes past 80 to bottom of gauge), everyone _hits when they see it. It just does this when it's cold then runs around the 60 side. I built the engine last year, and have been driving it with zero problems. But everyone tells me "hey, dat ain't rite". I have an external oil filter, and oil cooler up in front with a standard pan, and the higher volume pump.
What grade oil should one run in these old FE's? A multi-grade or a single grade?
Bob Faust

Clois Harlan · #4 (**permalink**) 07-29-2003, 11:08 AM

Bob,

I am running Castrol 20 x 50 and my oil pressure at start up is usually around 75-80 PSI. Recently at the race track my oil pressure maintained 60 PSI while racing and will usually fall to about 35 or 40 psi at idle after about 20 mins of racing.

I am running a Canton Road Race pan (8qt) and a High Vol. oil pump with a heavier spring. I picked up my oil pump and spring from Precision Oil Pump in San Francisco. Remote oil cooler and about 10' of AN 10 stainless hoses being filtered through a System One remote oil filter.

However, my oil temp is much higher than everyone elses, usually maintains around 235 degrees. My water temp has not exceeded 195 degrees. I also, suspect my oil temp is not as hot as my gauge is reading.

Clois

Cracker · #5 (**permalink**) 07-31-2003, 01:39 PM

Is this the reason you fell back at the drive? I kept expecting you to come up behind me but upon arriving in Helen - no one had seen you. I have a perfectly good 8 quart Canton Road race pan you can have for $80. It came off my side oiler when I installed the Aviad in December 02. I was driving the BMW 2800 CS on Sunday.

As to the oil pressure changing - that concerns me too. I have been told by much more knowledgable people than I that it is recommeded to run single viscosity oil in the FE's. I run straight 30 wt. oil in my engine and notice no fluctuations in oil pressure. With nothing else changing since the lack of pressure - it might be related to your oil pump. Best of luck!

Chiperb · #6 (**permalink**) 07-31-2003, 08:35 PM

Cracker: yep, that's what happened> Pressure dropped to 32 and held. Stopped and checked everything: No leaks etc. Hot day and running muti vis.

Started up Sunday night and had my full 40lbs at idle: Think the heat had thinned out the oil.

Will go to single vis: 30/40/

I BLEW an engine when I firdt got the car cause I lost all oil pressure and was not watching and kept drving (good I was not flying a plane). 3 months and many dollars later I was back on the road So I watch the op like a hawk now. If it had gone much lower, would have called for a tow.

The car had been down for 0 weeks and Sunday was it's first drive since getting it running again. Was a good shake down trip but didn't want to take any chances.

Went back to the Bill Elliott Museum and then home. All well

I'll be there next time. We USED to meet monthly, butlots of those guys are hung up with other projects (work, new jobs)..keep me posted. Chip

Chiperb · #7 (**permalink**) 07-31-2003, 08:39 PM

ps; Cracker: may be interested in you pan. remind me. Hav a few other projects to take care of (like finishing the GT40!)

Cracker · #8 (**permalink**) 08-01-2003, 06:58 AM

Chiperb,

Are you now running a 390 as your profile suggests? If you are then the pan will fit.

bmercer · #9 (**permalink**) 08-01-2003, 07:04 AM

Clois
My oil temp is in the same range as yours with Kendall GT-1 20-50. It Carries 50 psi hot and the water usually runs around 165 (not racing)



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