Oil Pressure High

OK, I have a 455 that I changed the intake on a few months back. A couple of days later my oil pressure became higher than it had been. It is registering slightly over the top mark of the buick oil gauge then drops to under 1/2 way when it warms up.

When I was installing the intake, a couple of times I noticed that it was getting hung on the tabs from the valve cover gaskets. These are the tabs that hold the gasket in place and stick out the sides of the valve cover. Well, I didn't notice immediately, but I think 2 of the tabs broke off during the install and are in the engine.

Does anyone know if this increased pressure will hurt the motor? I really don't think I can pull the motor as I don't have the equipment. I have changed the oil 2 times since hopeing they were in the filter but no luck. Any suggestions on some places to try to look besides pulling the motor would be appreciated.

Thanks, Jeff

 

Did you check the relief valve and spring? Maybe they are sticking, or perhaps it's a sending unit problem. Mine used to do that and a new sending unit fixed the problem.

Those tabs are likely laying on the bottom of your oil pan hurting nothing. Maybe they will get sucked onto the oil pump pick up screen, but that shouldn't restrict the flow that much.:Smarty:

 

No I havn't checked those things. I will see what I can find.

Thanks

 

I think you are ok. If the tabs fell in, and got sucked into the sump, and blocked it your oil pressure would go down!:Smarty:

I'm assuming you don't have a mechanical guage
when you pulled your intake, you probably jarred the oil pressure wire a bit, and gave it a better connection and therefore read more accuratly. take teh connecter off, and clean it. if you do have a mechanical guage, perhaps you crimped the tube a bit- which would throw the guage off.

If my oil pressure suddenly jumped, I'd be happy as hell:Brow:

 

I am going to get a gauge set this weekend and see what the numbers are.

 

Have you changed or checked the oil since you changed intakes? Is it clean? Maybe you got some coolant in it. Would that make the pressure increase (by raising the oil level)?

 

if you still want to keep the stock guage you can get a presure guage that will screw right into the block were your sending unit is. i use one that i got from a hardware store for about $10, i wrote down the hot and cold readings at different rpms and keep it in the glove box so i dont forget what my stock guage is reading. just a ez way to check your stock guage.

 

Thanks for the replies guys.

Larry, I was looking at getting the Autometer gauges, I was looking at the Sport Comp ones but will check out the ones you were suggesting.

Steve, I have changed the oil 2 times since and it looks good. No coolent in it.

Thanks for the idea Kelly, but I don't mind the gauges setup under the dash. I was also thinking about putting a vacume and air/fuel gauge in a couple of pods in the engine compartment to help with tuning.