Oil pressure cause for concern?

[SnS C10]

4 bolt main 350. Summit 1103 cam. Gear drive. Ported 993 heads. Hooker super comps, flowmaster 50 series, hri with flamthrower module, performer intake, q jet. upon start up, oil pressure goes to 26 pounds at a 600 rpm idle. I can rev it to 4000 and pressure wont go past 36. While doing 65 on the freeway, pressure is about 26 to 28 pounds at 200 degrees and around 2900 rpms. Take it off the freeway and idle at 200 degrees and it drops to 14 psi. Blip the throttle and it creeps up. Hold the throttle and it will go to around the 24 to 26 poumd mark. The engine sounds fine, make real good power. Im using a brand new jegs mechanical gauge. Opinions???
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[SnS C10]

Also, im running shell rotella 15w-40 oil and a fram tough guard tg30 filter
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[Ol Blue K20]

I would hook another gauge up and confirm readings, this sounds low to me.

[SnS C10]

Yea ive done that and the readings were the same. I can see the oil goimg through the line as there is usually an air bubble or two right before the gauge and when I start the engine, the oil looks like its moving fairly slowly.
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[SnS C10]

Forgot to mention im also using a 3/16 thick felpro one piece blue oil pan gasket.
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[Ol Blue K20]

Pan gasket wont effect the pressure as long as it's not leaking. Is this motor under warranty cause I would call summit. It's either got a bad pump or way too much clearance somewhere

[ole dollor]

just a note that you might try, change the oil filter and see if it changes.

[SnS C10]

If I go by the general rule of 10 psi per 1000 rpm, then around 3000 it should make thirty, which is just about does. The highest pressure I can get it to when cold so far is 36-38 psi. The filter can be causing this?
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[SnS C10]

Wow I just read about fram filters and there are tons of cases of low oil pressure readings, then a switch to a mobil or purolater or k and n and oil pressure instantly goes up. I will change it this weekend!
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[Andy4639]

What kind of oil pump did you install? If it's not a high volume your more than likely about right where you need to be.
Another gauge hooked up will say for sure though if it's low.
I doubt changing the filter will effect it much since they all have bypasses in them for cold cranking.

Here is a google search result.
If everything is working properly, the oil pressure will be controlled by a "bypass" valve inside the engine. Once the oil pump builds enough pressure, any additional volume is "dumped" back into the crankcase so that the oil lines don't build up too much pressure and damage the bearings and oil pump.
When the engine is cold, you should see the MAXIMUM oil pressure. Start the engine, watch the oil pressure and see where it goes. The needle will rise rapidly until the bypass valve starts dumping excess oil. Wherever the needle stops, that's your normal oil pressure. Usually it's somewhere in the middle of the gauge, 40 to 60 psi, but the exact number isn't critical. What's important is keeping it in that range... wherever the bypass takes over.

If the engine warms up and the oil pressure starts to go down, you have worn bearings. That's the most common reason for a loss of oil pressure in the 350 engine. It's a great old engine, as tough as they get. If the oil pressure is starting to go down when the engine is warm, just change to a heavier grade oil at your next oil change. If you've been using 5W15, change to 10W30 or even heavier. That will help you get a lot more life out of the engine. The thicker oil will keep the worn bearings lubricated better and help the engine last longer.

[RexDodge]

I second Andy's post. After the changes gm made in 87 factory small blocks run at 18 psi oil pressure@ 2000rpm.
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[Fitz]

Originally Posted by RexDodge

I second Andy's post. After the changes gm made in 87 factory small blocks run at 18 psi oil pressure@ 2000rpm.
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True, but he still needs to ditch the Fram filter....too many of them fall apart sending paper fragments into oil passages......with the expected results.

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by Fitz

True, but he still needs to ditch the Fram filter....too many of them fall apart sending paper fragments into oil passages......with the expected results.

Yes I would get rid of the fram. I only use AC's.

[Hubscrub]

The oil pressure is fine small block chevy run fine with 5 lbs at idle if its not noisy you got oil pressure my 383 in my nova run 30 high around 10 low fully warm, been driving for years.
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[GRX]

x4 on your pressure looking fine. Also, I'd install a Wix/NAPA Gold or Bosch oil filter instead.

[SnS C10]

Phew thanks guys for the advice, damn thing sounds so goodi was dreading having to pull it out. Ill change the filter asap
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