oil pressure at idle

85triz · 10-30-2009, 02:33 PM

After warming my truck up this morning, I noticed the oil pressure seemed quite low at idle. I've got the factory oil pressure gauge infront of the shifter on my '83. When the engine was warming up, before the thermostat opened it was in the middle of the gauge, the choke was off. After the temp gauge reached halfway, I looked at the oil pressure gauge and found it seemed quite low, but havent owned the truck long enough to know how low is normal. I snapped a picture on my phone, so if anyone can clarify, is this too low? the gauge seems to work fine, like the pressure raises right up at higher rpms, it just seems quite low at idle.

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yoterr · 10-30-2009, 06:03 PM

well if you get urself a mechanical guage idle psi is supposed to be around 4 psi, and jump to 50-60? psi at 3K so if your truck was cold it would be idled up making the oil pressure higher than it is at idle

ajoebob · 10-30-2009, 08:45 PM

its just a toyota thing. mine dose the same thing so i put a new oil pump on it and its still the same.

Adam F · 10-30-2009, 09:20 PM

Yea, its gonna be low at idle. Like yoterr said, on the cold start the engine was at high idle so the pressure was higher.

Built2Grind · 10-30-2009, 10:19 PM

mine had a bad sending unit, it would start out fine and slowly go wayyyyyy too low. i got really worried about it and got a mechanical gauge. everything was fine mechanically. 1 new sending unit and TA DA problem solved

85triz · 10-31-2009, 05:13 PM

Thanks guys, thats the answer I was hoping for

83 · 11-02-2009, 06:20 AM

Here's mine, but it's a rebuilt engine..

85triz · 11-02-2009, 11:19 AM

is that fully warmed up, after the thermostat pops? thats about where mine was at an idle before it fully warmed up. i had kicked the high idle down and the choke was off, the engine just wasnt completely warm yet. then after it was fully warmed up it slid off to what you see in my pic.

toyota4x4907 · 11-02-2009, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Built2Grind

mine had a bad sending unit, it would start out fine and slowly go wayyyyyy too low. i got really worried about it and got a mechanical gauge. everything was fine mechanically. 1 new sending unit and TA DA problem solved

Hm. Mayhaps thats whats wrong with my 22re pressure....or..it could be the main bearings since I get a slight knock on cold start sometimes

....but I have pretty much the same symptoms you describe here. It starts out fine, then after driving 15+ minutes constantly, it goes down to ALMOST the low level. and it usually stays there, even if I hit 4K rpm. it usually moves higher by about a needle width when I let off the gas

...then goes down again.

83 · 11-02-2009, 02:15 PM

Don't remember...I'll look later today if I remember. Seems like you're ok, though.

83 · 11-03-2009, 02:36 PM

I feel like when my truck is really warmed up (like after some time on the highway), at idle, it goes a bit lower, but just now, after getting heat in my cab, and sitting at idle, the needle was right at the first line. So just a bit lower than in my photo, but not much. Like I said, though, rebuilt engine.

10-30-2009, 06:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
yoterr Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Inverness,FL Posts: 1,065	well if you get urself a mechanical guage idle psi is supposed to be around 4 psi, and jump to 50-60? psi at 3K so if your truck was cold it would be idled up making the oil pressure higher than it is at idle __________________ new to me 86' toy on 35" procomp mud terrains, with a 4" lift and 3" body and palm fron camo for now... 04' Dodge 2500 4x4 QC hemi leveled, home made CAI and flowmaster exhaust

10-30-2009, 08:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
ajoebob Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: oklahoma Posts: 128	its just a toyota thing. mine dose the same thing so i put a new oil pump on it and its still the same. __________________ '82 toyota pickup 5" lift, weber 36deg carb, 32x11.5 sx super swompers,rear aussie locker,5.29 gears, cb, and 261*c cam

10-30-2009, 09:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
Adam F Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Cincinnati Ohio Posts: 2,398	Yea, its gonna be low at idle. Like yoterr said, on the cold start the engine was at high idle so the pressure was higher. __________________ 88 4Runner. 350 V8, R150 5-speed. SAS, 36" TSL's, elocker rear

10-30-2009, 10:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
Built2Grind Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Glendale, CA Posts: 87	mine had a bad sending unit, it would start out fine and slowly go wayyyyyy too low. i got really worried about it and got a mechanical gauge. everything was fine mechanically. 1 new sending unit and TA DA problem solved __________________ POS 3vz-e, 4x4, extra cab, SR5, 31's, glasspack, swaybarless and never going back!

11-02-2009, 06:20 AM	#7 (permalink)
83 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Montana Posts: 1,694	Here's mine, but it's a rebuilt engine.. __________________ Zach '83 Shortbed 4x4 L52HD Rebuilt & Mostly Stock

10-31-2009, 05:13 PM	#6 (permalink)
85triz Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 15	Thanks guys, thats the answer I was hoping for

11-02-2009, 11:19 AM	#8 (permalink)
85triz Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 15	is that fully warmed up, after the thermostat pops? thats about where mine was at an idle before it fully warmed up. i had kicked the high idle down and the choke was off, the engine just wasnt completely warm yet. then after it was fully warmed up it slid off to what you see in my pic.

11-02-2009, 02:15 PM	#10 (permalink)
83 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Montana Posts: 1,694	Don't remember...I'll look later today if I remember. Seems like you're ok, though. __________________ Zach '83 Shortbed 4x4 L52HD Rebuilt & Mostly Stock

11-03-2009, 02:36 PM	#11 (permalink)
83 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Montana Posts: 1,694	I feel like when my truck is really warmed up (like after some time on the highway), at idle, it goes a bit lower, but just now, after getting heat in my cab, and sitting at idle, the needle was right at the first line. So just a bit lower than in my photo, but not much. Like I said, though, rebuilt engine. __________________ Zach '83 Shortbed 4x4 L52HD Rebuilt & Mostly Stock

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