What is a good cold idle oil pressure for or 350's I am running 10w40. the oil pressure to me seems on the low side. My previous 350 had a cold startup pressure of around 35-40. the new one is about 12 at start up and even at running temps it stays there. anyone have an idea. I have also looked for kinks in the tubing for the oil pressure gauge. should I just reshim the pump and add a booster or is 12 ok at idle. Also the oil pressure at driving speed does not go above 40psi. thanks
:Smarty: Sad news buddy, Buick's have poor oil pressure due to the external pump! I researched this for 2 years before building up my 350. I purchaced a hi pressure hi volume pump from Postons or T/A Performance in order to solve the same problem. After installing that in, no problems with oiling, just the old rope seal wont hold, leaks about the size of a quater overnight :grin: The oil pressure your running at is ok, but if you want more pressure to get the oil to the top end, consider a hi volume oil pump kit. It really works! :Smarty: Larry
If your cold idle pressure and hot idle pressure is about the same, I think you probably have a bad pump or something...I don't even think re-shimming the pump or adding a booster plate will help you too much...I would pull it apart and check your side clearance between the gears and the pump walls...Your oil pump is probably really worn and your bleeding too much pressure around the sides of the gears...With 10w40, your pressure should be a little better since the oil is just slightly thicker...My 455 hot idle in gear is around 13#(in park, it's between 15-20#), but cold idle on a cold day is upwards of around 40# or more with 10w30... I would try to either find a better used timing cover/oil pump or get a new one...But that is just my opinion...
Thanks Jim Being that my pressures were low kinda concerned me as My other motor"350" ran 20psi in gear ,at idle, and at temp. I may just purchase another timing cover. thanks again
The one thing I noticed when I changed my oil from a synthetic blend to a conventional was valves chattering at start-up. I use to run Valvoline synthetic blend and I changed to Valvoline's Max Life oil. The problem I had with the synthetic blend was the engine would drink the stuff but, I never had the valves chattering like they do at start-up. The Max Life on the other hand dosen't get used up. I check my oil periodically and I haven't had to add any yet. So, I guess I can't have the best of both worlds. Btw, my car has over 100,000 miles. Rob
I've also noticed some occasional 'mystery' ticking after switching to Mobil 1 synthetic in my 96 SC Riv. Strange thing is - it doesn't always do it. Usually happens when it's cold, but not always!?! From everything I've heard about synthetic oil, although it's probably 'always' good for the motor, old seals may not take to kindly to it.o No: Scott
Phil I have recently rebuilt a 350 and had a similar problem. You might try checking the pressure relief valve. Mine was not closing all the way and thus not very good pressure. You can purchase a kit with several different springs to set the relief to different pressures for under $20! I agree that the 350's do have lower pressures, but it seems it should have more at start-up. Just an idea that doesn't take too long to check!
I have another cover on another 350 i am going to use. It is bleeding down as said before. has anyone noticed the increase in 350 timing covers. $220 for a stock gm replacment "ouch" they inflated pretty quick. thanks again
Before you go yanking the timing cover off, check the pickup tube. My first 350 did like 20 psi tops cold and usually around 0 idle and maybe 10 cruising... Not that great. Turns out that when I took the engine out for a rebuild, the screen on the pickup tube was 99% blocked with material from the ROPE seal. The seal did not leak but was obviously getting torn apart. I put the SAME timing cover on teh current engine in my car (the timing cover that came on it had the high volume (longer gears) high pressure kit and it made 0 psi period (haven't figured out why, I primed it and all that) So I put the old timing cover on the new engine and I still get ~40 when cold and ~10psi per 1000rpm when warm. (just got the car back after not having it 6+ months, the oil pressure gauge was gone, put a new gauge in this morn). The problem was the pickup tube, not the pump. Dan
T-Cover I just relaced my timing cover, and have a couple things to say about it. I know for a fact that the cover on some of the v6 motors are the same cover, just check the bolts in the oil pan. Cant remember which is which, but they sell the v6 cover a lot cheaper. If you dont want to go through that much trouble, I ordered one from DeHabby Racing for $125 about a year ago. Call him, great cover, great guy! Dont have the number off hand, but he is big into Buicks, so I dont figure youll have a hard time finding him. -Jon
Timing Case cover JC Whitney carries the timing case cover also. They advertise it being for the V-6 and Buick 350 engines. I looked at it and it comes with all the gaskets and seals. They also carry the oil pump rebuild kit. I did buy one of these and getting 60 lbs at start up and around 15 -20 at idle warm. This is also without a booster plate on 10w-40 conventional motor oil. You can see online at jcwhitney.com Hope this helps!
After running the car a little I have had cold pressures of 55psi in park 35 psi at speed 12psi in park cold or hot. Presure seem to bleed off slowly when coming to a stop. 20psi then 12 psi. pump housing worn? thanks guys
12psi at idle is actually pretty good. I'd take 5-10 at idle in D (500-700rpm). They say 10psi per 1000 rpms (until pressure release kicks in, usually ~ 40-60 psi). I wouldn't want more than 80 psi under any circumstances... I'd be super happy with 10 psi idle and 30 cruising (2500-3500 rpms).. Also, I've experimented in the past and different brands of the same grade of oil seem to give more pressure when hot. My best experience yet was with Castrol Synthetic Blend 20w50. Mobile 20w50 (blue bottle) was good, Valvoline was good too, the Racing oil was cool but $2.50 a pop made it impractical. I hope this didn't open up a can of worms, this is just my experience and my opinion so take this however you want but don't yell at me for giving an opinion and expressing it as such. In no way is this statement meant to be the definitive answer, oil is like stocks, everyone has their favorite. Me, other than synth blend, I buy whats cheapest. Dan
