Heavy Duty or High Volume oil pump: which is "better"?

Posted By: rnch

Heavy Duty or High Volume oil pump: which is "better"? - 02/27/13 03:19 AM

for my street driven '85 ram 150, 318 engine, torqueflite tranny?

I'm looking for the most oil pressure I can have below 2500 rpm.

Posted By: bigblock340power

Re: Heavy Duty or High Volume oil pump: which is "better"? - 02/27/13 07:24 AM

I've always used Melling high volume, high pressure pumps. I've used them in my 416 stroker, and in more subdued builds. Never disappointed me yet!
Just my

Posted By: dOrk !

Re: Heavy Duty or High Volume oil pump: which is "better"? - 02/27/13 07:30 AM

What kind of pressure #'s are you looking for ?...and WHY high pressure at lower rpms ?

Posted By: 340SHORTY

Re: Heavy Duty or High Volume oil pump: which is "better"? - 02/27/13 12:08 PM

standard only pumps for me. Iv learned my lesson with hi volume/hi pressure pumps.. They are not needed....

Posted By: 69HemiGTX

Re: Heavy Duty or High Volume oil pump: which is "better"? - 02/27/13 12:47 PM

High pressure and/or volume aren't really necessary for 2500 RPM. The factory pump is more than adequate.

Posted By: scratchnfotraction

Re: Heavy Duty or High Volume oil pump: which is "better"? - 02/27/13 02:35 PM

just replace it with a stock over the counter oil pump from napa.

I have used a lot of the melling M72 pumps on new engine builds as well as high milage engines.

if I use a HV/HP pump on a new build I drill the oil pump/main cap/block to 1/2" add 4 more holes in the oil filter adaptor, drill the feeds to lifter galleys to 9/32,matching/blending all mating surfaces and rounding any turns i can reach.

other wize it uses a stock pump with stock engine specs.

Posted By: rnch

Re: Heavy Duty or High Volume oil pump: which is "better"? - 02/27/13 04:49 PM

Quote:

What kind of pressure #'s are you looking for ?...and WHY high pressure at lower rpms ?

I recently bought a higher mileage 318 powered ram, looks like oil hasn't been changed in a L O N G time due to a rounded off, stuck oil pan drain filler plug.

The oil pressure gauge still reads slightly below half scale all the time, no engine noise that I would associate with low oil pressure.

I'm going to be swapping oil pans soon, thought it might be a good prevenative measure to change the pump out with the pan off?

Perhaps I will just clean the pick up screen and let it go.

Posted By: 76dodgeboy

Re: Heavy Duty or High Volume oil pump: which is "better"? - 02/27/13 05:09 PM

Wouldnt hurt to put a new pump in if you have the pan off. Oil pump and timing chain always get changed if I have that area open enough to do so

Posted By: rnch

Re: Heavy Duty or High Volume oil pump: which is "better"? - 02/27/13 06:12 PM

Quote:

High pressure and/or volume aren't really necessary for 2500 RPM. The factory pump is more than adequate.

Good to know! This truck ('85 ram 150, 318 & torqueflite) will be my back up vehicle; used mainly for trips to home depot or lowes to get stuff that I feel guilty about putting in the carpeted trunk of my new car; will seldom experience more than 65 mph on the occassional interstate run to work....slowly trying to fix what the previous owner deferred doing.

Posted By: dogdays

Re: Heavy Duty or High Volume oil pump: which is "better"? - 02/27/13 06:17 PM

A stock pump is the best for your application. Yes, this advice has changed from years ago.
The horsepower that it takes to drive the pump varies DIRECTLY with either flow or pressure. Increase both and it varies by the product of the two. Having 50psi at idle for example, just twists your camshaft and puts more load on the oil pump drive.

Posted By: VL21

Re: Heavy Duty or High Volume oil pump: which is "better"? - 02/28/13 01:38 AM

Quote:

The oil pressure gauge still reads slightly below half scale all the time

Don't go by the gauge, it just serves in an advisory capacity.
Merely something to give you something to look at.
My '85 is VERY slow to start any reading, even with a new sender unit to replace the leaker. And I think there is also a light? Seem to remember one ...
It is probably about as accurate as the temp gauge.

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Attached picture 7606069-7465539-001.JPG

Posted By: ahy

Re: Heavy Duty or High Volume oil pump: which is "better"? - 03/01/13 05:01 AM

The high pressure pump has a stiffer release spring. At low RPM if you are dealing with low OP that won't help. The relief valve is already closed. The high volume pump will move more oil at low RPM and may help oil pressure.

The only application I can think of where a high pressure/std volume pump may help is a super high RPM race engine (>7,000 RPM).

Otherwise the HV/std pressure may help a low OP situation at low RPM... and as many have posted the std volume/std pressure setup is usually fine with a stock or near stock engine.

Posted By: Commando1

Re: Heavy Duty or High Volume oil pump: which is "better"? - 03/01/13 03:37 PM

Quote:

standard only pumps for me. Iv learned my lesson with hi volume/hi pressure pumps.. They are not needed....

You nailed it!!!

Posted By: AtomicDog

Re: Heavy Duty or High Volume oil pump: which is "better"? - 03/01/13 11:25 PM

I use the high volume Melling oil pump in my small block motors, along with the Mopar Performance oil pump drive, which has a hardened tip and the shaft pinned to the gear. Also, usually used with a deep oil pan and windage tray, too.

Works great for my needs.

Posted By: rnch

Re: Heavy Duty or High Volume oil pump: which is "better"? - 03/20/13 01:40 AM

Quote:

Quote:

High pressure and/or volume aren't really necessary for 2500 RPM. The factory pump is more than adequate.

Good to know! This truck ('85 ram 150, 318 & torqueflite) will be my back up vehicle; used mainly for trips to home depot or lowes to get stuff that I feel guilty about putting in the carpeted trunk of my new car; will seldom experience more than 65 mph on the occassional interstate run to work....slowly trying to fix what the previous owner deferred doing.

I replaced the oil pump (and oil pan and gasket) this weekend with a standard pressure Melling oil pump. The oil pressure gauge reads somewhat higher, a bit more than half scale, but does build up pressure quicker than before.

Posted By: 71yelladustr

Re: Heavy Duty or High Volume oil pump: which is "better"? - 03/20/13 02:20 AM

As mentioned before, Dont go off of the p.o.s. factory gauge in the dash for any precise oil pressure readings. They are generally way off. Put you a MECHANICAL gauge under the dash if you are that concerned about it. FWIW, mopars usually carry very good oil pressure, even at lower speeds with the STOCK pump. They ain't a SB chebby that can just barely muster 30 psi cold.