Oil pressure to high ??????????????

[pat b]

Smiths gauge and S/B Chevy. Oil pressure stays at 40 p.s.i. all the time even at tick over or high revs Dont think its gauge as goes back to 0 when engine stops. Any help pls.......... PAT.........

[Grease Monkey]

First off, is it an electrical or mechanical sender?

If its electrical:

Check the gauge says zero with the power to the gauges on but the engine off.

Short the sender wire to ground (anywhere on the engine should do) It'll take a few seconds but should move up to read maximum.

If this works, you must have a dodgy sender unit, if not you have a dodgy gauge.

If its mechanical:

Get an electronic one like me and repeat step 1..

[pat b]

The switch is mechanical, pipe from block to gauge. Any body help pls... PAT....

[mylesdw]

Is it a hi volume (bbc) pump? What speed is tickover? Solid lifters? It could be that there is nothing wrong with either the gauge or the engine. Perhaps the gauge is just a bit sticky such that you don't see the drop at tickover. I agree that 40psi at tickover is unusual for a Chevy, 25psi is more typical.

[Grease Monkey]

Mine shows 75 psi at tickover when the engine/oil is cold. This drops to 35 or so when hot. (Tickover hot that is. I've yet to rant it so have no idea what it will read when the oil is properly hot)

Perhaps you could attach a bicycle pump or something to the gauge and just try pumping different amounts and see that the gauge moves up and down without sticking.

Not much else i can think of other than trying a different gauge on the engine.

[Purple AK]

Pat.

I got an old gauge your welcome to borrow. Pm your address and i'll put it in the post :thumb:
Also what oil are you using and when was it last changed? I had a less than happy oil pressure until I changed to Valvoline 20/50. Stays at 75psi hot or cold now

[Neil O]

Pat, my Chevy runs at about 40-50psi (mechanical guage) and drops a bit on tickover but not much at all.

I've just changed to Valvoline Racing Oil and this has pushed the oil pressure up slightly. It now seems to get up to the 50 mark at anything over 1000rpm and doesn't drop back as much on tickover now.

My guage is sticky when starting now but wasn't when I first had it (approx 2 years ago). This can be a problem if you have an oil pressure safety relay working with your electric fuel pump (if your fuel drains back to the tank when engine is not running).

Try Purple's offer of his spare pump for peace of mind.

Cheers,
Neil.

[Andy S]

Pat I would concur the figures above, my SB Chevy sits all day at 50psi when under load etc and drops back slightly (to about 35) on tickover.

[callum]

Mine too is 35-50 from idle to 2000rpm+. It is a high volume pump with a de-rated spring.

[pat b]

Thanks for all your answers and Chris i will P M you later thanks for offer.Have not been ignoring this link just cant get my comp to log on to this site and when I do cant see new posts.......SH** my logs a pain in the A**....... PAT......