Low oil pressure

[SoulTerror]

So when the oil in my car gets warm I loose pressure. When I'm going it stay between 20-40 and when I stop at a light it's almost to the red line and you can hear the engine squeaking. Any suggestions?

Ron's engine build said it's probably the oil pump or bearings have to much clearance. The oil pump from the old engine looked new so my mechanic used it for the new engine.

[prorac1]

As cheap as they are, I never reuse oil pumps. Its cheap insurance. But without having an accurate mechanical guage reading, its hard to tell if its REALLY low oil pressure, or just a bad guage/sender. Eric L

[1BADAIR]

spun/spinning bearing usually squeaks

[ITSSLOW]

I'd say drain the oil and put in some 10w-30 or 10w-40. It's kind of a band aide fix but it might work enough to get buy. Hell, I ran 15w-40 in my Sonoma for 2 years after I was dumb enough to put a reman'd engine in from Michigan Motor Exchange.

spun/spinning bearing usually squeaks

Don't tell him that! He just replaced the engine like 2 days ago!!!!!

[ICEPICK]

i had him put in straight 30 wght, and it still drops, mine is over 40 on idle, his is about 10 on idle with brand new oil, my builder said sounds like bearing gap is bad, could replace. i say that or pump.

[SoulTerror]

Yeah just had the oil changed today. When the engine is cold from sitting I have great pressure. Even with the temp gauge sitting at about 180* or so (Thanks again Ron) I still have crap for pressure once the motor get's hot when it's idling. When I'm driving I have about 40 psi, but the longer I drive it, the lower it gets. When I stop at a light I loose pressure and the engine starts to make a noise. Even the wife noticed.

Car runs great other then that, on my way to Ron's the other night I ended up leaving about 30'-50' of rubber on the road from a small rolling start. The guy who put the engine in for me wants me to bring it by this week so that he can put a gauge on, and check the pressure that away. I'm getting so sick of this car and Ron has seen the mess I gotten myself into first hand.

[2EVUL4U]

My friend had the same problem with oil pressure, after warm up. He replaced his oil pump (and screen), then the sensor. That didn't work, so he talked to his older brother( ASE master mechanic). Guess it happens alot on the LT1's. My friend took his advise & changed the cam bearings (& the cam while he was there) . Problem solved ... instant oil pressure (even after warming up)

[kammi10]

hate to say it but you got a spun bearing by the sounds of it.. had the same thing happen to me with my old 383 right when i put it in. depending on how bad it is it might not be to terrible but it should cost at least 7-800 bucks

[ICEPICK]

we were lookin more at the rod bearing, talking to my engine builder he said $60 for bearings then time to do it witch isnt bad. told probly under 200 if he wants to do it,
not sure he was hoping to do it with the engine in the car but i dont see it since it has to all come out to gauge the bearings.

[DETROITMUSCLE]

$200 is cheap but your right pulling the motor is the problem I'm sorry to hear this is round 2. Please make sure you install a brand new oil pump this time.

[ezcruisn71]

For a cheap and easy fix you might want to try a different brand of oil filter before you have the engine torn down again.
We have tested different brands of oil filters at work on the dyno and have gotten different oil pressure readings with different brand oil filters.

[nascarnate326]

My oil pressure is very low too, when hot. Mine stays around 15-20.

[SoulTerror]

Mine is dropping to almost the red line though. If it would stay around 20 I wouldn't worry.