Oil pressure worse than previously thought!

[rendyx]

After driving around for quite a while today, figuring my engine with a bottom end tick still had a good 12psi of oil pressure, I looked down, only to find we're really at about 8-9psi. Any thoughts? This wasn't exactly what I needed after becoming all stoked from the nicer weather!

 

[SHO--ripper]

Do you still have the original oil pump in there? that could be on it's way out. Isn't the oil pump what controls the oil pressure. What is the stock oil pressure?

 

[rendyx]

Stock oil pump, and it should be putting out 11-13 psi. I just don't know if it's worth it. The SHO is rusting, needs paint, an interior, has brake issues about every 3-6 months, has been in some nasty accidents, and was not exactly perfectly maintained before me (but not horribly either). I also figure the damage has already started, and I find no use in spending another few grand on a motor which has had its life just chopped in half.

I think the 89 of SHO Movie background may be on the way out. frown

 

[notstock]

rendyx:
After driving around for quite a while today, figuring my engine with a bottom end tick still had a good 12psi of oil pressure, I looked down, only to find we're really at about 8-9psi. Any thoughts? This wasn't exactly what I needed after becoming all stoked from the nicer weather!

8-9 PSI isn't abnormally low for a SHO engine. Mine runs that low hot and there's nothing wrong with it. Have you checked your rod bearings? That could cause the ticking, but the low oil pressure doesn't mean you have to trash the car. The SHO oil system is a low pressure, high volume system.

There are instructions on how to change the rod bearings here:

http://www.kurtmetros.com/bearings.html

Kurt
www.kurtmetros.com

 

[SHO--ripper]

rendyx i have an extra motor if yours is shot and you want to keep your car running. Just a thought. Good luck, and your videos kick @$$ thumbup thumbup

 

[AutoSHO]

rendyx:
After driving around for quite a while today, figuring my engine with a bottom end tick still had a good 12psi of oil pressure, I looked down, only to find we're really at about 8-9psi. Any thoughts? This wasn't exactly what I needed after becoming all stoked from the nicer weather!

I wouldn't worry. I had a car showing copper on all 6, and hot the oil pressure gauge would show about 5 psi. If I pulled the motor down to around 5-600 rpms, the oil light was on. I ran it that way all summer. It never got any worse. I replaced the rod bearings and the oil pressure improved quite a lot.

All gauges are definately not accurate either. According to my oil pressure gauge, I have 3 psi when the motor is very warm. The oil light wont come on in this car until I stall the engine. The oil stays perfectly clean, and it has all the signs of a good motor. I'm not worried. If you are, put in some 10 or 15w40. I know some people here think 10w40 is the devil and *** in your crankcase is better, but my last car (nissan 240sx) had 250K on it with 10w40, and my old truck has over 200K, and both still run excellent and have good oil pressure.

 

[Dave Ladely]

If you aren't burning oil, just maintain your oil change schedule as recommended by your oil. Synthetic has a higher film strength, so I would recommend it. I use 10-30 as a wider spread like 10-40 has additives in it which aren't so good. I have 260K, still no oil burning, runs great even though oil pressure at idle is a bit low.