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General Site Info => General Discussion => Topic started by: odie on January 15, 2004, 10:02:00 am

Title: what should oil pressure be at
Post by: odie on January 15, 2004, 10:02:00 am
I just put in new autometer gauges and was wondering what kind of oil pressure your guys trucks are running at.I have a 350 in mine.

Edited by: odie at: 1/15/04 10:05 am
Title: Re: what should oil pressure be at
Post by: 73K20 on January 15, 2004, 01:06:00 pm
Thats kind of an open ended question.  The answer would really depend on the amount of milage and service life of an engine.  My old 350 (removed from my great grandfathers '77 caprice classic) with about 175,000 miles, when warmed up, would hold about 33 psi while driving and 15-20 psi at idle.  My new 350, when warmed up, will hold at about 55-60 psi while driving and about 35-40 psi at idle.  When it is first started up and cold, engine oil pressure usually goes about 85+ psi.  I believe that the general rule of thumb is a minimum of 10 psi @ idle and another 7 psi for each 1000 rpms.

1973 K20 - 350/465(as of 10-04-03)/205