Drop in Oil Pressure.....

[Fast87V6]

At idle my oil psi used to be at 20...its now at 18 to 17....last time at the track i did detonate her kinda hard on 2 runs and also detonated it fairly hard on a previous 2 runs earlier that week but i didnt blow a gasket or anything.....could the drop be from detonation or is it the fact that my motor now has 9,000 miles on it and its starting to loosen up a bit from normal wear and tear and i just haven't noticed it????? The gaskets/heads have never been off of this motor before either....i almost never detonate my motor but my tranny began to flare and thats what caused it to detonate....i had 10 gallons of 117 octane in it....i really appreciate the help!

 

[TURBOTIMMER]

Although detonation isn't helping, it sounds like your motor is just breaking in. I think most stock turbo V6 motors only make 10-15 lbs of oil pressure at idle, anyways.

JMO, though.

 

[Fast87V6]

my motors not stock...its been redone but it has new a stock oil pump (not high volume) and cover in it with a 60lb cam spring.

 

[motorhead]

Originally posted by Fast87V6
my motors not stock...its been redone but it has new a stock oil pump (not high volume) and cover in it with a 60lb cam spring.

That 60lb spring is a "by pass" spring... which regulates peak oil pressure. It has nothing to do with idle.

Personally using a HV and booster pump kit & 20w50:
Cold idle: 60-70psi
Warm idle: ~22psi
Hot highway (3000rpm): 60psi (on the nose)

You can you increase you oil weight for a "boost" in pressure. Or you can try fresh oil in your engine, as you may have started to "break down" the oil.

 

[Fast87V6]

yeah i use 20w50 mobil one also

 

[Fast87V6]

anybody else have an opinion?

 

[Russ Merritt]

Yea mobil 1 doesn't make 20-50, it's 15-50 and I personally think it's too thick. The stock pump is fine, your engine is fine, stop bummin bout losing 1-2lbs oil pressure at idle. Don't go to thick oil unless racing in the die-hard 500 or your engine has alot of miles. I run no oil cooler, 5-30 mobil 1, and have 18-20lbs oil pressure at idle, stock pump/booster plate, drilled main feed to 1/2", deburred all passages. The main issue is oil pressure at speed, 10lbs/1000rpm.

 

[azgn]

what he said...idle oil pressure is what it is.....where you need it is at rpm!

 

[Fast87V6]

sorry i meant to say that i use 15w50 mobil.....my oil psi is 45-50 at 35-38 mph