Quote:
Originally Posted by atvsmurf
I have installed some aftermarket guages... my oil pressure is reading about 25 psi when driving and a little above 6 psi at idle when warmed up... I am running 10w30... this just seems low to me. I am wrong or is it about time for a new oil pump?  this is in a '90 rrc with 168,000 on the ticker... |
Factory spec is up close to 40 PSI up around the 2,000 to 2500rpm. My 4.6 runs in the high 30's normally and may drop to the low 30's when the oil temp gets a little hot. At idle it reads in the low 20's and may drop to the high teens if the oil is getting hot.
At idle it should be around 20psi or above. The low oil pressure light cuts in at around 8PSI.
You definitely have an issue somewhere. Could simply be the oil you are using.
Do you have a functional oil temp guage. If so what is it reading when you have these low pressures.
Your low pressure is probably not doing your engine much good as it needs a certain amount of pressure to circulate and protect properly. I would not be driving it at those pressures unless I had another motor ready to go in.
I would not leave it the way it is. First I would try a thicker oil. Particularly a thicker hot temp oil, where you seem to be having you issue. I would not stuff around with a 40 weight oil as it is not going to prove much as to what is wrong. Go for something like a 15W50. If it fixes your issues you can try a 40 oil next time. If the 50 doesn't fix the problem, then you need to start looking at other causes.
