It is colder, but the shop is heated and we started the car toward the end of the day. Under those circumstances, I can't see the temps accounting for such a large increase. I was actually quite surprised, and pleasantly surprised at that. When we first got my car out of storage and got it running, the idle pressure was well over 40, but it dropped considerably within 30-60 seconds and wouldn't move much even when giving the car some throttle. I'm thinking there may have been some goop that got circulated into the cooler and plugged it up, but I really have no idea. I just know that the quick drop in pressure seemed weird. I thought maybe it was the sensor, but replacing it didn't make much difference.

 

I had an SLP oil cooler. I did notice the heat/ echanger-filter had alot of stuff clogged there. I removed it/ cleaned and re-assembled it. Oil pressure went up on the gage (like 20 from 20+). Then I got a Summit air to air type. Nixed the SLP, and plumbed up the air to air. I found that @ 180*F operating temp it idles around 30+psi now. Also, the temp gage indicates a lower operating temp. My opinion is that the SLP option is not worth the money and a bad gm / SLP option. (97ss 383 - D1) B.

 

Something I failed to consider, and mention, in my earlier post is that I also changed the oil filter when I removed the oil cooler. I guess that could also play a role in my increased pressure. Maybe even a significant role. The filter I replaced was brand new when I first got the car running out of storage and my oil pressure began to run low.

 

clogged??gunk!? what kinda oil are you guys running!?!

my LT1 has lived on mobile1 since day one, I can't ever imagine i'd have gunk flowing around in my engine.

 

So you brought the car home and switched to Mobil One that day? Or did you have the dealer put it in before you brought it home?

 

GM cars have come with Mobil One synthetic oil for quite some time now.

 

Not in the F-Body LT1's. Only the Corvette engines got Mobil 1, and that's why they didn't get the oil cooler that was installed in the early F-Body LT1's.

 

very interesting read. what aftermarket air-to-air setups are people using? I could use a few more psi oil pressure when the new cam goes in.

 

Purchased from Summit (1.5x8X11.5"). Also, an adaptor (Trans-adapt brand 13/16") oil filter mount. Socketless -8 hose and additional 37* flair fittings/ tube to run it up front. Canton makes some good heat exchangers.

 

I don't see how that is possible. If the oil is returning to the sump, then it will be filtered after the pick up and before the oil cooler. I guess I would need to see an oil flow diagram to determine if the cooler affects the oil going into the filter or affects the oil from the filter to the oil galleries.

 

And those motors had a different type of process to finish off the cylinders, so there would be no problem seating the rings with the Mobil One. At least thats what I once read, take it for what it's worth.
Broke mine in for over 500 miles with regular oil, then made the switch to Mobil One. I have now moved to RP.

 

yes

 

I wondered about that too, but too many people have claimed to have first-hand experience with "junk" clogging the cooler. I think the small pieces must be sucked up through the pickup and "pulped" by the oil pump . The "fluffed up" bits are then collected at the cooler which appears to be on the inlet to the filter.

 

Removing it is the best thing for your engine. Get rid of it..

 

After removing the cooler, and changing the filter, my cold idle runs 55-60 psi. Warm idle is around 20. At 3500 rpm it's around 50-55 when warm. I definitely noticed an increase in pressure and the pressure is now much more responsive to changes in rpm.