steveo3318

running 10w-30 castrol
always full, no leaks
factory gauge!!
Pressure shoots right up above the middle line when started cold, dummy light goes off in less than 2 seconds.
After she gets to operating temps though the needle is ALMOST sitting on the first line, I mean a hair from it. "Light has never came on though" Truck is moving a ton of oil, I looked in the fill cap at operating temps and its getting LOTS of oil.

Here is my question, Is this Normal? Should I change to a Thicker Oil? Should I put a new oil pump on her just in case? Or is this all just the Norm. Its looks like its running maybe 5-10 PSI at idle at 900 rpms.

Any help would be huge. She runs like a sewing machine and I want to keep her that way.

steveo3318

also I might add the pressure jumps right up under any throttle, the only worry I have is at idle!!!

dropzone

iTrader: (6)

not sure about the root cause but a new pump would be a good starting point

BMcEL

Pressure is nowhere near as important as flow, and it sounds like it has plently of flow. The factory oil pressure gauges are pretty inaccurate...I would start by cleaning the sender.

Depending on how worn the motor is, I'd switch to 5w40.

steveo3318

motor has 152,000 original miles. The flow is great. Upon alot of research it says they only require 4.5 PSI at warm operation temp, as long as it goes up under throttle, and it does that with no problem, My wives grandfather "whom I bought the truck from" says its done this from day one when he bought the truck brand new in 82.

How do you clean the oil sending unit???

snobdds

I also agree with that the flow is much more importiant than pressure. If you really want to know if your rocker arms are getting enough oil, take off the valve cover and look at your cam. If you see heat sink (blueing of the metal) on your cam, your not getting enough oil flow to the furthest point from the oil pump. Time for a new oil pump. However, the 22r series motor has a mechanical oil pump. They do last a long time.