Hi Guys,

My 383 stroker is still running strong ... no internal engine issues that I've noticed ...

I use to run Mobile 1 synthetic 10w30 oil and after a year or so, noticed that my stock oil pressure gauge began acting up. So much that it barely registered any Oil pressure at all. So, I swapped out the sending unit and this didn't change my symptoms. I then went to a thicker oil (10w50) ...

This change in oil helped the Oil Pressure quite a bit... No issues, until recently ... I again noticed my stock oil pressure gauge had dropped and basically bottomed out enough that my check gauges light came on...

So, I added an aftermarket autometer mechanical gauge to see if my stock piece had bitten the dust. The autometer gauge (installed just above the oil filter via the opening in the block) shows only 10 PSI of pressure at idle ...

What are my next steps to correct this problem? I'm thinking of dropping the pan and installing a new oil pump ... what else could I do?

Thanks,
TIM

 

I woud run thicker oil first....see what that does
what kind of pump do you have?

 

Thicker oil is definitely NOT what you want to do. Empty the oil out and drag a magnet across the bottom of the pan. If you can hear something moving, then it's possible that your oil pickup fell off. This is common. Also, do you have a oil cooler installed? Those are known to clog up. Other than that, you may just have some gunk in the oil pump or it's broken somehow. You could also check under the intake to see if the oil pump drive gear is still intact and bolted down.

 

Thanks guys ... The oil pump is a stock unit that's been modified. It was modified a couple years back when my 383 was built. I believe that main modification was a spring upgrade ...

No tranny cooler just a built M6 ...

So, my next steps should be to drain the oil from the tank and remove the pan to inspect for pickup issues and while in there just replace the pump and pickup?

Thanks ...

 

Check to see if you have a oil cooler, not a tranny cooler.

 

Sorry, my bad ... No, I don't have an oil cooler either ...

I really hate to pull this pan ... Sounds like a PITA ... pull the engine up a few inches and move the K-member down a little ...

Thanks,
TIM

 

Uh, yeah, it's a huge PITA. Might want to check under the intake first, but that's not easy either. If you have a mechanical gauge, maybe you can try to check the pressure from the access hole above the oil filter. See if that gets you any different readings.

 

That's where it's currently installed ...

Is there a possibility my oil has broken down, resulting in less viscosity and less Oil Pressure?

I'll probably try an oil change and a different oil filter first ... I'm currently using a Fram (orange) oil filter ... Isn't there an oil filter out there recommended for use to gain oil pressure? I thought I remember reading that on here somewhere before ...