The oil pressure is required mainly to be capable of supporting the "oil wedge" wrapped around the journals, and providing lube oil for all else. The injuneers have determined how much pressure is required to do this, and have established basic parameters. I look at any more pressure than is necessary as being a waste of power and adding heat.
What's the magic number? I don't like to see more than 75-80 lbs. Does it really hurt to have more? I doubt it until it gets to the point of rupturing hoses and filter cans!
On the other end of the scale is minimum pressure. An engine can run at idle no-load with just a handful of lbs of oil pressures, but as soon as it gets a load it needs enough to support the oil wedge. Whenever I find myself lugging my old Land Rover in 3rd gear, I usually just side-step the clutch to get the revs up a bit for my oil pressure, vs going through the chaos of getting it back down in 2nd at anything over a crawl...
Glen
--Previous Message--
: Hi.
: O.K. so how much is too much and
: why???
: My 2002 Buick LeSabre has 125 PSI at
: speed and the car has over 220,000
: miles on it. Back when we were racing
: a TR250 the car was dry sumped and it
: had a constant 100 PSI oil pressure.
: After three races the engine came apart
: and there was absolutely no wear on any
: bearings... Take a look at your little
: Jap car sometime when it's running if
: you dare open up the filler cap... It
: will blast you with oil like crazy..
: Really is too much pressure even
: possible?
: P.J.
:
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