Does balance shaft removal raise or lower oil pressure and other oil pressure issues

[4gfun]

I just got a 91 Galant VR4 which has had the Balance Shafts removed. The engine was rebuilt 30k miles ago I am positive of it.

I am fighting "alleged" low pressure issues at hot idle.

I really have searched the issue to death and have found varying information.

I am getting 10 psi of oil pressure at hot idle with 20w-50 dino oil. The previous owner advises that he would only get 6-8 psi of oil pressure at hot idle with 10w-30 and wasn't sure if the Nordskog digital oil pressure gauge was accurate and did not want to take a chance.

The previous owner also advises that he is positive the oil pump is not bad.

I know that balance shafts definitely play an roll in oil pressure, some posts say that it raises it, some posts say that it lowers it.

In fact, I have seen a post saying that contrary to what some of the FAQ's say, that 5-10 psi of oil pressure at hot idle is normal for a DSM.

The previous owner has a pretty good reputation locally and on the forums, so I am going to go with what he says.

I guess my questions really come down to this:

1) Does anyone know if the Nordskog oil pressure gauge is accurate?

2) Does anyone know if 6-8 psi at hot idle is too low to take a risk on?

3) Does anyone know if the balance shaft removal would raise or lower oil pressure?

My problem with the 20w-50 dino oil is that I don't want to wear down the engine with cold starts.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[Hubbell91Tsi]

1. You should not be running 20w50 .
2. 6-8 is very low

Something is wrong, i get 100 psi cold on 5w30 and around 18 warm.

Also i am not running a balance shaft.

 

[justin90gsx]

Something is wrong, i get 100 psi cold on 5w30 and around 18 warm.

my 92 gvr4 gets 100psi cold on 10w30 and about 15 hot at 800 rpm
i am running a balance shafts

 

[delta448]

If the BSE was done properly it will raise oil pressure somewhat. Usually the pressure relief valve in the pump housing is ported out to reduce the maximum pressure after a BSE is performed. You want at least 10psi at warm idle and not more than 120psi maximum.

If the BSE was not done well, you risk the possibility of a large internal oil leak where the left shaft bearings reside.

 

[hubz91talontsi]

I get 40psi hot. Around 120 on a cold start with 10-40

edit: With both of my cars

 

[AndrewD5418]

1. You should not be running 20w50 .
2. 6-8 is very low

Something is wrong, i get 100 psi cold on 5w30 and around 18 warm.

Also i am not running a balance shaft.

Nothing is wrong with 20w50....

 

[willydsm]

Nothing is wrong with 20w50....

^^Agree^^If you flip your sun visor down and it is the original then you will see it calls for 10-30 , 10-40 or 20-40 , and 5-30 is only to be used in cold conditions. 20-50 is not that much thicker than 20-40.

1. You should not be running 20w50 .
2. 6-8 is very low

Something is wrong, i get 100 psi cold on 5w30 and around 18 warm.

Also i am not running a balance shaft.

^You should be running thicker oil^

 

[4gfun]

Maybe the gauge is inaccurate?

This scenario is starting to look VERY familiar!

Please see:

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/bolt-tech/152824-oil-pressure.html

 

[talontsiboy24]

I heard to run thicker oil if you have your balance shafts eliminated is this true?

 

[GRAVEDIGGER]

I heard to run thicker oil if you have your balance shafts eliminated is this true?

I don't see why eliminating the balance shafts would require the use of a thicker oil.