Hello everyone,

I introduced myself several month ago, with mine 1972 cutlass 442 clone, with its 350 Rocket, from France !
Here is my issu, the oil pressure was very low 5psi at idle, and 2à while accelerate.
The low engine was very bad looking, si I decided to change many parts (Crankshaft, main bearing, etc)

But now, after all that work done, the first start looks good, around 45-50PSi at idle, but when it is getting hot, the tach shows 15psi at idle, and around 45 when i accelerate.

My question is : Do you think everything running good when the gauge shows me 15psi at idle ? Is it normal on these 350 rocket ?

Thank you very much for your help

 

Yes that is very good oil pressure.

 

10-15 at idle is not too low ?

 

I agree with Oldsmaniac, that is good oil pressure. What brand gauge are you using?

 

Thanks for your opinion, to be honest I am not really sure because I don't work on it, you want to know if it's an electronic one or a mecanic one ?

 

If your mechanic just relayed those oil pressure numbers to you ask him what kind of gauge he's using.

 

Yeah, especially if that is like 700 rpm in gear, that is acceptable. Did you do an oil change shortly after the initial start up? Always a good idea, incase dirt and metal debris was missed during the rebuild. Also what weight of engine oil are you using?

 

Okay mate, he told me that is an electronic one, and he checked the gauge it seems to be good

 

At idle, it run around 800Rpm, I bring the car at home this afternoon, the oil is all new, and I will change this one in thousand miles. For now, the oil is 20W50

 

15psi with 20/50 oil in my opinion is low. I would expect that oil pressure out of a high mileage engine. Did you use a new oil pump? You can have your mechanic shim your oil pump to increase the oil pressure.

 

The oil pump is brand new and it's an heavy duty one, the pump is already on the high pressure mode