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2 lbs oil pressure at hot idle, acceptable?
#1196181
03/13/12 03:05 AM
03/13/12 03:05 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,576
Sarcoxie, MO, USA
MoPar Jamie
OP
master
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OP
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,576
Sarcoxie, MO, USA
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OK guys,
Got tired of seeing the idiot light on the Van on and the gauge dropping to nothing at hot idle so I pulled the doghouse and attached a mechanical gauge and ran it to see what was going on.
Wee when I cold started it it was at 45 at idle, over 50 down the road. Once it warmed up then it dropped to TWO pounds of pressure at idle. You could watch the line getting clearer and clearer. Down the road hot (No overdrive, 3.55 gears) it runs around 30-35 at 65-70.
So it confirmed my suspicions, its getting very little pressure warmed up idling, in gear or out. At highway speed there is a roar coming from the engine but it still has that 30-35 lbs pressure. let up and it goes away.
Once its revved a little then it jumps back up to around 25-30 depending on RPM. I am running 10W40 oil.
So, is my pressures okay or am I in danger of grenading the motor anytime soon? I know they are low but I would like to limp it along till my other truck is running.
I also pulled the breather and inside the baffle it was all gunked up. Probably a pennzoil motor.
- MoPar Jamie
1972 Fury III 4dr
1986 D-150 LWB Royal SE
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Re: 2 lbs oil pressure at hot idle, acceptable?
[Re: MoPar Jamie]
#1196182
03/13/12 03:09 AM
03/13/12 03:09 AM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 819
Eugene, Oregon
Secret Chimp
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 819
Eugene, Oregon
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No no no no no no no nononononononono. 2 pounds isn't even a normal fuel pressure much less oil pressure.
1967 Dodge Coronet Deluxe station wagon
1.03" T-bars, QA1 arms/rods, Cordoba/GM Metric/Volare brake & knuckle, XHDs, Hellwig rear sway, 318 Magnum w/ air gap, 727, 3.23s
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Re: 2 lbs oil pressure at hot idle, acceptable?
[Re: A57_RT ]
#1196184
03/13/12 03:22 AM
03/13/12 03:22 AM
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,319
Chicago Burbs
sthemi
master
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master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,319
Chicago Burbs
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Only chevy small blocks will work with 2 psi... Try some thicker oil, 20w 50 next oil change and see if makes any difference.. An oil pump change may help as well. 
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Re: 2 lbs oil pressure at hot idle, acceptable?
[Re: bobby66]
#1196190
03/13/12 10:35 AM
03/13/12 10:35 AM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,519
AZ
Mike P
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,519
AZ
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Just a thought (I've seen it before) If it had a timing chain with the plastic gear go away and valve seals got hard and broke up, chances are the oil pump pickup could be plugged. You might get by just pulling the pan and cleaning the pickup screen.
1957 Plymouth (Hemi, Dual Quads, A833 4 Speed 9 1/4 w 4.10) Sold
1937 Dodge Pickup (Hemi, 6X2 intake, 46RH, Dana 60 w 4.56) Sold
1968 Plymouth Valiant 2dr sedan (354 HEMI, 46RH w/4.30 gears) under construction
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Re: 2 lbs oil pressure at hot idle, acceptable?
[Re: Mike P]
#1196191
03/13/12 11:24 AM
03/13/12 11:24 AM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041
Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
Circle Track
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Circle Track
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041
Lincoln Nebraska
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drop the pan and change out the pickup screen & a hi vol pump if that dont do it then some 50 wt racing oil
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
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Re: 2 lbs oil pressure at hot idle, acceptable?
[Re: Mr.Yuck]
#1196193
03/13/12 11:32 AM
03/13/12 11:32 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,619
Almost Heaven
B_Body_Bob
Master of nothing
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Master of nothing
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,619
Almost Heaven
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I had one like that, ran it for about a year in the garage while fixing misc other stuff. It always had good oil pressure even while hot. Then I took it for a test drive, and the oil gauge would drop to zero at stops. Pulled the engine, pulled it apart, found it had chewed up a bearing or two. Your motor's dead. Don't waste money on thicker oil, it won't help.
Everybody makes fun of a hillbilly until they need something fixed
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Re: 2 lbs oil pressure at hot idle, acceptable?
[Re: peelerboy]
#1196195
03/13/12 12:48 PM
03/13/12 12:48 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 25,200
Upper Midwest
MoparforLife
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 25,200
Upper Midwest
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Quote:
No, that pressure is not okay and yes, you are in danger of grenading the engine sometime soon. 
I can't believe that the lifters aren't rattling at idle with that little pressure. 
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Re: 2 lbs oil pressure at hot idle, acceptable?
[Re: MoparforLife]
#1196196
03/13/12 12:55 PM
03/13/12 12:55 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,838
Detroit, Michigan, USA!
peelerboy
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,838
Detroit, Michigan, USA!
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Quote:
Quote:
No, that pressure is not okay and yes, you are in danger of grenading the engine sometime soon.
I can't believe that the lifters aren't rattling at idle with that little pressure.
You and me both.
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Re: 2 lbs oil pressure at hot idle, acceptable?
[Re: MoPar Jamie]
#1196200
03/13/12 01:18 PM
03/13/12 01:18 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
Challenger 1
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
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I have a 1983 International 4X4 truck with a 345 gas V-8 engine. It is a old ultities company truck with a 7.5 ton crane on it. I bought it about 15 years ago just for the crane and the truck came with it.(that's what the dealer told me) I figured I could rebuild the engine since I had rebuilt other International gas engines. This engine has no oil pressure at idle, as soon as you rev it 100-200rpm the gauge moves. This truck is geared real low and screams out on the road, hi rpms. It's still running with no work done to it now for over 15 yeras. No we don't drive it 8 hours a day, but we did for like 10 years. It mostly sit's nowadays but has never gave up and it has almost no oil pressure at idle. Now I did rebuild the trans twice and the transfer case once, but never the engine. lol  To the OP, I say drive it until it dies, it might be a long time from now?
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Re: 2 lbs oil pressure at hot idle, acceptable?
[Re: Challenger 1]
#1196201
03/13/12 02:02 PM
03/13/12 02:02 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,576
Sarcoxie, MO, USA
MoPar Jamie
OP
master
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OP
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,576
Sarcoxie, MO, USA
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both gauges (stock and aftermarket) drop at idle. it may be three pounds but its below five. Sometimes mild (Not hot) it does clatter a lifter or two but its only one and it goes away.
I can also see the oil leaving the clear tube at hot idle
When going down the road it does sound like a lifter is down but it has good pressure then.
I have no idea how many RPMs this thing is rolling down the road. Its not an overdrive trans (998/999) and it has 3.55 gears and 235/75/15 tires.
Looks like I need to find a V8 and overdrive soon. I like the Van as a short wheelbase one, it rides good, and most importantly I installed a wheelchair lift for my Fiancee.
- MoPar Jamie
1972 Fury III 4dr
1986 D-150 LWB Royal SE
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Re: 2 lbs oil pressure at hot idle, acceptable?
[Re: MoPar Jamie]
#1196202
03/13/12 02:19 PM
03/13/12 02:19 PM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 21,318
Manitoba, Canada
DaytonaTurbo
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 21,318
Manitoba, Canada
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FWIW, the 4.2 in my jeep has very low oil pressure too, not that I actually have an oil pressure gauge hooked up. At a hot idle, one lifter will bleed down and start to clack. At an extended hot idle, two lifters will bleed down. I don't care if it dies, I've got a 5.2 magnum waiting to go in. I've driven it as a daily driver around town this way for the past 8 months. Taken it down the trails, off-roading, trips on the highway, sitting idling in the parking lot, etc. Never give it an oil change, just add because the rear main seal pours oil! Hasn't died yet! 
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Re: 2 lbs oil pressure at hot idle, acceptable?
[Re: DaytonaTurbo]
#1196203
03/13/12 04:28 PM
03/13/12 04:28 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,838
Detroit, Michigan, USA!
peelerboy
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,838
Detroit, Michigan, USA!
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If you don't mind the fact that the engine could theoretically let go at any time, I would just run it til it drops. I had a 383 that would go down to 8 lbs. at idle and I ran it that way for years. The lifters would start bangin', though, but if I revved it a little, the pressure would go back up and the lifters would go quiet.
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Re: 2 lbs oil pressure at hot idle, acceptable?
[Re: maximum entropy]
#1196205
03/13/12 08:58 PM
03/13/12 08:58 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 602
N.E.Ohio
pacifica
mopar
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mopar
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 602
N.E.Ohio
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Quote:
Quote:
I had one like that, ran it for about a year in the garage while fixing misc other stuff.
you're lucky to be alive.
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Re: 2 lbs oil pressure at hot idle, acceptable?
[Re: pacifica]
#1196206
03/13/12 10:03 PM
03/13/12 10:03 PM
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,406
New Jersey, USA
yella71
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,406
New Jersey, USA
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My last truck had a 400 bb that when hot had about 0 psi on the gauge on the dash. never had lifter tap or rod noise.it was a work/plow truck and it worked hard. ran that way for YEARs. after the truck rotted to death around the engine I scraped the truck and kept the engine. I pulled the pan to check the crank and found a bad main on the crank. I did a set of new bearings and put it in a 67 satilite and it is still running good just low psi at hot idle.just keep running it. If its not knocking just run it . When it starts knocking then worry.
71 challenger convertable, 64 sport fury 383 ci with factory air
99 sebring convertable
89 CTD pup
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Re: 2 lbs oil pressure at hot idle, acceptable?
[Re: yella71]
#1196207
03/14/12 01:45 PM
03/14/12 01:45 PM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 855
ontario canada kingston
aspenrt360
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 855
ontario canada kingston
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if it was mine i would pull tha pan and take a look around check you pick up tube and pull a couple of bearing caps to see whats up. i have changed bearings in place before if you can't change out the engine right away you can sort of freshen up the bottom end if the crank is not grooved up and if you pull the pump youy may find it is grooved as well all this stuff will drop the pressure and is easy to replace which could keep it running for a long time yet. good luck
2013 Chrysler 300 touring 1974 Dodge Charger SE. 360-727-8.75-3.23 sure grip 1972 Dodge Dart Swinger 1995 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4
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Re: 2 lbs oil pressure at hot idle, acceptable?
[Re: toplescuda]
#1196210
03/14/12 03:33 PM
03/14/12 03:33 PM
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493
Granite Bay CA
Kern Dog
Striving for excellence
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Striving for excellence
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493
Granite Bay CA
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Quote:
i also had a motor do what you decribed it was from the timing gear the stuff was breaking off and would work their way to the pickup screen blocking it off causing no oil pressure shut it off and it would fall back to the pan and be fine but as the motor ran it would compleat the cycle
W H A T ????
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