low oil pressure

[cruiserdoc]

My cruiser's sbc started registering a low oil pressure while driving it around today. the low pressure ( about 5 psi at idle ) only occurs at idle, once I rev the engine it jumps up to around 40 psi but will drop back to 5 psi once the rpm drops to idle. Previously the oil pressure at idle always remained around 20 or greater psi. I checked the oil level and there was a full amount of oil. would my oil pump be a problem, do I need to worry?
Thanks for the information

Brian

 

[tlcruiser66]

I'd worry if I were you, lack of oil pressure is not something you want to ignore. Before you go replacing your pump, i'd check a different gauge, then if that didn't change anything, pull the pan and make sure your pickup isn't clogged. If all else fails at this point you've already have the pan off so replace the pump.

Good luck, Kevin

 

[inkpot]

My cruiser's sbc started registering a low oil pressure while driving it around today. the low pressure ( about 5 psi at idle ) only occurs at idle, once I rev the engine it jumps up to around 40 psi but will drop back to 5 psi once the rpm drops to idle. Previously the oil pressure at idle always remained around 20 or greater psi. I checked the oil level and there was a full amount of oil. would my oil pump be a problem, do I need to worry?
Thanks for the information

Brian

Howdy! My sbc does the same thing. Been like that for years. New filter and oil may help a little, but tolerances in the engine are worn enough that the oil can flow easier that if it was a fresh engine. I put a Hi Volume pump in mine 12 years ago when I did the transplant. It looked a lot better on the guage back then, but mine is still running OK and passing emisions similar to Kalifornia, with nearly 200,000 miles on it, and I have never even pulled off the valve covers. Low oil pressure does not always mean low oil flow. John

 

[FishNinJay]

i'm seeing this exact oil psi performance in my 327. Low/zero PSI at idle, but then goes up to 40. I'll examine it some more, and check the oil. I have a Sunpro oil gauge. Running 5qt 10W30 "High-Mileage" Synthetic Mobile1.