To much oil pressure

[Jeff Bukowski]

Re: To much oil pressure

Joe:

I didn't try replacing the spring. I was so relieved to have survived assembly and that dreaded first startup that elevated oil pressures seemed a minor issue.

John's post is a concern. I purchased the two Melling 55 pumps about (oh my God!) 18 months ago. If anyone has a pump that they purchased recently that oils at 45 pounds please let us know.

Who else makes pumps??

[Duke W.]

Re: To much oil pressure

Another good reason to use a nice "seasoned" original pump. Give it a good inspection and blueprint - maybe buy a new spring if the pressure was a little low before teardown, and it's likely good for another 40 years.

Unless a pump ingests a bunch of junk, it's likely quite serviceable. Afterall, it gets plenty of oil.

Duke

[Lawrence S.]

Re: To much oil pressure

I spoke to the guy who put the motor together today about the issue, and he said he put a standard pressure standard volume pump in it. I told him I wanted everything stock for the motor and that is what he did. (I guess). He did tell me I could change a spring in the pump that controlled the bypass and that would help. Some other guys told me to do that too.

I am running the same oil in the motor as when I picked it up. I will change it in the next week and run 10w 30 Mobil 1.

[Lawrence S.]

Re: What weight oil is in the engine?

10 W 30.

[Jeff Bukowski]

Re: To much oil pressure

Don't let Duke see that 10w-30 Mobil 1 comment!!!

[Lawrence S.]

Re: To much oil pressure

Correction. The oil has been changed once and it now has 10w 30 in it.

[Loren L.]

Before you start taking it apart, switch

to 5W X 20 and take a reading......I'm not sure where this "data" about oil pressure come from - but my suspicion is that it is "trailer queen bull****"; my first 63 was purchased in 1964 when I got out of the army and until I sold it three years later, it NEVER failed to peg the 60# gauge on startup; after warmed up at hideway speeds, it would continue to show 50-52 lbs pressure at speed. It was one of 300HP "race" motors, don't you know.

I guess that my stance is that this is a bull**** requirement inserted by those who want to be worshipped as "gurus"; this is pre-robotic engine assembly gentlemen, and clearances were NOT programmed as they are today. To actually implement a standard that would disqualify contention for a Bowtie award based on oil pressure readout - are we really going to assume that ALL of thee gauges and their sending units were 100% ACCURATE????

Maybe it's just easier to call for a prejudging meeting of all the judges 35 years old and under for their recitals of "Of all the original '63's that I've seen"............this is tremendously helpful, because if he judged a '63 when he was one year old, the car would have been doing it's duty for ten years.

[Duke W.]

Re: To much oil pressure

I recommend you use 15W-40 CI-4 or CJ-4 oil.

Viscosity range doesn't have a great effect on operating oil pressure, especially in warm weather.

Your guy said he put a standard pressure/standard volume pump in it. So what manufacturer and part number? Can he tell you? Does your invoice have a parts list?

Duke

[John M.]

Re: To much oil pressure

Thanks Joe,
I took the oil pan, oil pump and rear main off last night and found the source of the oil leak. The rear main seal was torn for about 1 1/2 inches. It looked like it might have originally been that way (like a casting flaw.) The oil pump is a Melling M77HV. I checked the website and the HV is high volume and it's obviously high pressure. So, the question is, while the pan is off, should I replace this (almost new, 800 mile)pump with the standard GM? This car will not be judged with this engine in it. It's a 67 BB NOM
John McRae 30025

[Joe L.]

Re: To much oil pressure

John-----

High volume, high pressure pumps usually will work ok on big blocks. I just don't recommend them for small blocks.

[J M.]

Re: To much oil pressure

I am running a Melling 55HV on my 327/350 because I felt my clearances were a little on the high side. Pressure is 30 at hot idle and 60 to 70 at cruise. I think that is too high and will be installing a Milodon 18755 standard pressure, standard volume pump soon. That's the new one that has the beefier housing as compared to the lighter weight Melling 55.

[Lawrence S.]

Re: Before you start taking it apart, switch

I intend on changing the oil and putting in some fresh then see what it reads.

Thanks Loren

[Lawrence S.]

Re: To much oil pressure

I gotta ask---why?

[Duke W.]

Re: To much oil pressure

Do an archive search on "CI-4", and you will find out most of what you need to know about current motor oils to make wise selections.

You can also learn from the organization that establishes motor oil performance standards in conjunction with the OEMs.

www.api.org

Duke