C2 327/250 Oil Pressure

[Don Keller]

At idle my oil pressure drops to about 8 PSI. At avout 1000 RPM oil pressure is about 18 PSI and above 2700 oil pressure is 30 PSI.

Would this be caused by the oil pump or engine ware. I would expect oil pressure to drop but 8 PSI seams to be low.

Where should I start to find the problem.

Thanks,
Don

[Duke W.]

Re: C2 327/250 Oil Pressure

Normal hot oil pressure is 40-45 psi at 2000 revs. Your pressure appears a bit low, but probably won't cause any damage if you drive the car normally and don't pound it hard.

How many miles does the engine have and what is it's general mechanical condtion. Also, what viscosity of oil are you using?

I would suggest verifying the pressure with a test gage known to be in good calibration.

Duke

[Duke W.]

Re: C2 327/250 Oil Pressure

Normal hot oil pressure is 40-45 psi at 2000 revs. Your pressure appears a bit low, but probably won't cause any damage if you drive the car normally and don't pound it hard.

How many miles does the engine have and what is it's general mechanical condtion. Also, what viscosity of oil are you using?

I would suggest verifying the pressure with a test gage known to be in good calibration.

Duke

[Joe L.]

Re: C2 327/250 Oil Pressure

Don and Duke-----

I really expect that if you confirm the oil pressure with a test gauge you're going to find that it's not as low as you think. In my experience, many Corvette oil pressure gauges read low. The one in my 69 read low from the day the car was new and was my first "cause for concern" when I drove the car for the first time. Sometime later, when I hooked up an accurate test gauge, I found that the oil pressure was perfect and MUCH higer at idle than my in-car gauge showed. Since my first experience, I've observed many other Corvettes with "low" oil pressure readings, so I know that my 69 was not unique in this regard. There is no way that I know of, though, to re-calibrate in-car gauges.

[Joe L.]

Re: C2 327/250 Oil Pressure

Don and Duke-----

I really expect that if you confirm the oil pressure with a test gauge you're going to find that it's not as low as you think. In my experience, many Corvette oil pressure gauges read low. The one in my 69 read low from the day the car was new and was my first "cause for concern" when I drove the car for the first time. Sometime later, when I hooked up an accurate test gauge, I found that the oil pressure was perfect and MUCH higer at idle than my in-car gauge showed. Since my first experience, I've observed many other Corvettes with "low" oil pressure readings, so I know that my 69 was not unique in this regard. There is no way that I know of, though, to re-calibrate in-car gauges.

[Don Keller]

Re: C2 327/250 Oil Pressure

I'm not sure how many miles. She shows about 52,000. I would expect she has more. As far as general condition. She run strong. Little smoke when cold. No running problems.
Last month I had to rebuild the distrubtor after the tach drive sheered. Took me a little while to get her back in tune. But now she runs great.

I'll get a test guage and test to see if the pressure is better.

Don

[Don Keller]

Re: C2 327/250 Oil Pressure

I'm not sure how many miles. She shows about 52,000. I would expect she has more. As far as general condition. She run strong. Little smoke when cold. No running problems.
Last month I had to rebuild the distrubtor after the tach drive sheered. Took me a little while to get her back in tune. But now she runs great.

I'll get a test guage and test to see if the pressure is better.

Don