High/low and otherwise scary oil pressure [Merged 3-9]

[Bluefire16]

Ok so ive read a number of different threads but have not come up with much. I have checked my connection to my pressure regulator and the switch. I have connected it and disconnected it, talked to 3 different people. One is currently attending a mechanic school, the other works at a quick lube, and lastly another is a respected dsm member with 3 different dsm's with 450whp each. I have spoken to all of them and have not come up with much, here are the pics. THe first one, oil pressure when car is warm and just sitting and idling. THe second is on the highway going 70mph. It drops soon as im off the gas. I understand my oil pressure should not be this high, any reasons why?
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[EagleTalon1993]

If the key was on and the wire was grounded well then I would say faulty guage. The only other thing you could try is start the engine leave the wire grounded and see if the guage responds if not then definitely faulty guage.

 

[GST_Hatchback]

If the key was on and the wire was grounded well then I would say faulty guage. The only other thing you could try is start the engine leave the wire grounded and see if the guage responds if not then definitely faulty guage.

I did a couple different grounds just in case and no luck...but I was going to put new bulbs in my instrument cluster anyways tonight so I guess I can just check and see if a connection is loose or something

 

[EagleTalon1993]

Sounds like your on the right track, Good luck and let us know when you get it going

 

[GST_Hatchback]

Sounds like your on the right track, Good luck and let us know when you get it going

thanks for the help

 

[GST_Hatchback]

quick question...how would I test the gauge once I take the dash apart?

 

[EagleTalon1993]

Heres a thread with some goog pictures and diagrams of the sender and guage and how to test both.

http://images.google.com/imgres?img...ssure+gauge&ndsp=18&hl=en&sa=N&start=180&um=1

 

[GST_Hatchback]

I tried grounding the sending unit wire to see if the gauge moved and nothing. so that tells me the problem is in the gauge and not the unit. I took the oil pressure/ boost gauge out and kinda tinkered with it not knowing if there is a way to test the actual gauge or the connectors behind the instrument cluster...any ideas??

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[dsmtalontsi95]

are there any numbers associated with the lines on the gauge? I don't have balance shafts and on cold starts it does NOT go past the 3/4 of the way up. I was told that it should be around 100 psi on cold start up. And yea I know I need an after market on but all of my gauges are sterwart warner and they don't make an electrical on that goes over 100psi.

 

[Black99gst]

cold starts should only be around 60psi or so... i have never seen oil pressure reach 100psi... and if i one day do see it, i hope to god it isnt in my car... 100 psi max is a fine gauge.

 

[jaden]

ok i have a 91 tsi awd and it has an manual auto meter oil pressure gauge in it and about a week ago it would read 10psi on idle and now it has shot up to 50 psi on idle. tried searching but everyone was saying it was caused by there ballanced shafts being removed and mine are in... what could cause this? thanks.

 

[jag987]

Something could be cloged, not letting the oil flow back to the pan.

 

[95burgundyesi]

My autometer gauge reads 60 psi at a cold start up with 20w-50. At full oil temp it idles at 24psi. At any partial load the car sees about 58-62psi from 1500rpms to 7500rpms. WOT sees about 68 to 70 psi from 1500rpms to 7500rpms.

Now in my -4 ss feed line is a .078 restrictor, which I was told was a very slight restriction, At warm idle the turbo needs a minimum of 10psi, and 40psi at partcial load. 72psi is the max psi, though at cold start up 88psi is okay.

Do you think at idle I my be below 10psi at idle? If I took the restrictor out I would be at the very edge of comfortable WOT pressure, and would be fine for idle by a good 12 psi. I am not sure if I should take out the restrictor or leave it in. Possibly running 10w-40 with no restrictor would change idle to about 15-20psi and 55-60 at WOT? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Also I was told psi increases 10psi per 1k but not mine, it is either at 24psi at idle or tap the gas and it pegs to 60psi, weird right?

 

[dsmloverguy90]

10w 40 should drop your pressures a little and probably get you into the range you want.

That's also the same weight i run.

 

[andy4g63]

I think, that ANY restrictor increases pressure, but reduces volume. This is how it compensates, so the turbo, would get proper amount-volume of oil.

Think of it this way:
This is just theoretically... Holset HX-40 turbo, should get 2 liters of oil/ IN&OUT/ for a minute at idle, or 4 liters at WOT. So if you have higher oil pressure/100+PSI @ WOT/, you feeding it more and there is a possibility of blowing the seals and some damage. By putting a restrictor, pressure would be UP, but the turbo will get 2 liters @ idle, or 4 liters @ WOT/ We talking VOLUME/.
And remember these numbers are just theoretically, for example.

I think, there will be some difference, in relation to where the restrictor is located. I think, that right before the turbo is better, than on the OFH, or in-line. Of course this is my opinion.

 

[donniekak]

I think, that ANY restrictor increases pressure, but reduces volume. This is how it compensates, so the turbo, would get proper amount-volume of oil.

Think of it this way:
This is just theoretically... Holset HX-40 turbo, should get 2 liters of oil/ IN&OUT/ for a minute at idle, or 4 liters at WOT. So if you have higher oil pressure/100+PSI @ WOT/, you feeding it more and there is a possibility of blowing the seals and some damage. By putting a restrictor, pressure would be UP, but the turbo will get 2 liters @ idle, or 4 liters @ WOT/ We talking VOLUME/.
And remember these numbers are just theoretically, for example.

I think, there will be some difference, in relation to where the restrictor is located. I think, that right before the turbo is better, than on the OFH, or in-line. Of course this is my opinion.

A restrictor increases pressure in the line before it, and lowers volume in the line out of it. This can create lower pressure after the restrictor if the restriction after the restrictor is less than the restrictor. A new turbo with tight oil clearance in the bearings will show a higher line pressure, but less flow out the drain. As the bearings wear the line pressure will drop and the flow will increase. So a restrictor good for a new turbo may starve a used one. I think one of the problems with holsets is that 99% of people running them are using a used turbo.

 

[95burgundyesi]

So 10w-40 with no restrictor sounds like the way to go.

 

[dan2288]

When my motor is fully warmed, the oil pressure is 10 psi at idle. Is that something to worry about? Will it kill my bearings? Im running royal purple 10w40 and have no balance shafts. Cruising around 3k the pressure it 45-50, which I think is fine. Its just the idle pressure im worried about.

 

[eclipse94turbo]

is this a high mileage motor?10psi sounds low with your bs removedu want 40-60 in the higher rpm 20 or so i think at idle.is this a stock 14b?

 

[Rob10_99]

10psi is about right for a high mileage engine at idle. Just above idle does it pick up? or does it take 2k to build that 40 psi?

 

[need2boostpsi]

should be about 10psi for every 1000rpms for an unmodified motor.

 

[dan2288]

yes, it picks up right after idle. The engine was rebuilt not too long ago too...

 

[Mitsu RacerX]

It sounds fine and it should run like Need2boostpsi said..

 

[mitsu_matt]

Ok, I have checked and rechecked everything. I totally rebuilt the motor used all new OEM parts. Now when the car reaches warm, at idle I show 0 oil pressure. I have a electronic oil gage and it seems to correspond with the stock oil gage (which we all know is garbage). As soon as I hit the gas it jumps righ up to where it should be.

My biggest problem is I keep burning up the bearings in the turbo. I have had it rebuilt three times! Every time I get it back they are telling me its not getting enough oil. I am using a -3 from the OFH. Turbo is a turbonetics journal bearing turbo. I have a -10 return line.

I have tried warming up the car and disconnecting the turbo oil supply line and I do get flow at idle. I also disconnected the drain line and do get oil draining.

What could be causing my Low oil pressure?

Balance shafts have been removed and front bearing was rotated.

 

[99rtguy]

sounds like bearing clearance issue. did you check the bearing clearances before you put the motor back together?

 

[mitsu_matt]

No i did not because the oil pump was brand new. Why wouldnt it be correct? and if it was not correct how would I fix it?