Just rebuilt the motor 6k miles ago. Have been running Royal Purple 5w30 after I broke the motor in. About 200 miles ago I noticed that at idle the pressure was getting down to 20psi. Before that even at hot idle it was around 40psi. I changed the oil yesterday and went with 10w30 to see if it made any difference but it didn't. The longer the car runs the lower the oil pressure gets. Today it got down to about 10psi and its really scaring me.


Any idea whats going on? I am hoping it might just be the sensor.

 

"rebuilt the motor" did you change the oil pickup or change the oil pump?

 

Brand new standard volume and pressure Melling select pump and brand new pickup.

 

Confirm it with a mechanical oil pressure gauge.

 

Where is the easiest place to do that from?

 

I think the gauge is reading fine because the rockers do get louder when the oil pressure goes down to 20psi.

 

Stock pickup? or did you change the whole unit? pickup and pump...

 

Changed the whole unit.

 

Check the oil pump shaft, the plastic piece on these tends to break, yours may be cracked causing it to slip/not work properly. Resleeve it if you haven't already.

May be the unit itself, I would say get a new one and give it a shot. (if its not the shaft)

Otherwise I would suggest checking your sender sensor/sender

 

I'm pretty sure mine came with a metal shaft instead of a plastic one.

 

did you install new cam bearings w/ the install?

 

Yes. The only things that are original in the motor are the crank, heads, and block. I changed everything else out while I had it apart.

 

If it was cam bearings wouldn't I feel a loss it power? The car still feels really strong.

 

the shaft is metal, but the sleeve is a plastic like material. Should be white in color and its about 3/4 inch long and snaps onto the pump shaft.

 

Alright I'll try to check that. But if that broke wouldn't that mean I would get no oil pressure all the time?