hello i have a pretty good understanding of what oil pressure is. but someone today said to me that if u have to much oil pressure you could blow seals out and make oil leaks. this triggered a question in my head. It is :
Does oil pressure mean PSI in the crankcase or just in the passages of the engine, crank, oil galleys etc. ???

IF someone could please explain this or if i dont have a accurate understadning of oil pressure please help me figure it out lol thanks

 

just int he passages - which is why most 94 cars and all 95 and later have the oil pressure guage on the back of the intake manifold.

 

Good question. Oil is under pressure in the oil gallerys, crank, etc. as you said. The pressure is usually measured at a point soon after the oil leaves the pressure side of the oil pump.

The oil passes from a gallery thru the top of a main bearing (for example) and into the bearing where it does it's job. Oil in the bearing continuously leaks or squirts out so it is replaced by more pressurized oil from the gallery.

Once the oil gets free from the bearing, or lifter, or pushrod, etc. it's no longer under pressure. It then trys to drain back to the pan (wet sump) or is sucked out of the engine (dry sump). Unfortunately with all the parts revolving and reciprocating in there it has a tough time getting back to the pan. It is flung around, aerated, and beaten up thoroughly. This along with any blowby past the rings creates a general pressure throughout the crankcase and almost all other places inside the engine, but outside of the working part of the cylinders, of course. If this pressure is enough not only does it cause a hp loss because of the drag, but it can force the oil out of the engine thru a seal or around the pan rail, etc.

Did this come from too much oil pressure in the oil gallerys? Nope, it came from blowby and windage. Would decreasing the oil pressure change this? Not much unless you went so low as to starve the engine for oil, but then you'd have more serious problems.

How much oil pressure is enough? That's currently being discussed on a couple of threads:

http://web.camaross.com/forums/showt...6&page=1&pp=15

http://web.camaross.com/forums/showthread.php?t=332361

 

wow, thanks alot for the good info you explained it well, thanks alot

 

The sensor is behind the intake in the block.

 

Too much oil pressure can also erode your bearings or rupture your filter. Just thought I'd add that in.

 

Sorry, my wording was poor. Either way, it's in back behind the intake I should know after having to replace two of them

 

Too much air pressure, while driving your car, could pop you ear drums, as well. Both however, are very highly unlikely. We are talking well in excess of 100#, (maybe 200#) of oil pressure, AFAIC.

 

I was just adding a little info Mr. Smart, AFAIC (Whatever the hell that means)

 

Relax guy, but I understand your indifference, with my sarcasm. I also would have been more understanding, had you included specific pressure #s, and their liklihood. How many pumps are you aware of that can generate that high of pressure? 100# won't do it, AFAIC, and even that pressure would be temporary, with very cold, thickened, or too heavy a oil. Reminds me of an oil filter ad, stating it is better filter, with it's 250# burst strength, in lieu of 200#. It is not very high on my priority list, when choosing a filter. If my filter bursts, I've got biggger/worse problems, and they won't be oem induced.

 

True