oil psi question

[b.lee]

I went to look at a 98 trans am ls1 auto 96k miles today
It was warm and when idling only had 20 psi oil pressure on the gauge.(stock of course)
It got a 40 psi pretty easily.
I didnt really get on it either.
He said he was running some synthetic oil in it also.
Do those sound like decent readings?
Would thin oil cause this?

[Keego Ridah]

When my car decides it wants to idle low around 500 rpm it will sit a lil bit above 20, normal idle is right around 40 and when im on it, it can shoot up anywhere to 60+

[Formula Z]

its normal, mine does it to. at idle its low but once the rpms get up so does the oil pressure. could be due for an oil change although.

[csmith4153]

I was once told by a engine builder that you only need 10psi for every 1000 rpm.

[b.lee]

the oil in the car looks very clean on the dip stick
he said it was synthetic, it could be like 0w-20 or something.

It runs and drive good but the oil psi scares me
I swear my old 98 camaro z28 ls1 idle'd at 40 psi when it was hot
and 60 when getting on it when it was hot.

[ITSSLOW]

I was once told by a engine builder that you only need 10psi for every 1000 rpm.

x2, I've heard that too

Thin oil would be low oil PSI. to bump the oil PSI in my sonoma I used to run 20w-50

[motownZ]

mine reads the sam, even on my diesel truck 20 stoped, almost 70-80 cruising

[JoeliusZ28]

mine is between 15 and 50 psi with 5w30 synthetic (thinner end of the spectrum).

[WMCC AL]

Does the car have high mileage and make alot of knocking sounds. Cam bearings worn out? Oil pumps don't often fail and give low pressure. They fail completely, zero pressure. If there are not any leaks and the car mileage is not very high, I might first suspect a bad oil pressure sending unit.

[archemedes]

that sounds about right especially off a stock gauge (not the most acurate by any means)