Steady oil pressure

[PareosWC]

Gents- I have a Dodge 230 of unknown mileage that runs and idles well, but an observation while using my dwell, tach, and vacuum gauges.  

 

My oil pressure at cold start-up is 22lbs.  However, my oil pressure when hot and running at 40mph is 24lbs.  My idle is set a bit high at 750rpm, but my throttle response and gauges all hold steady at 18mmhg on vacuum.  All-in-all, I'm happy! Running straight 30w oil and filter.

 

Is it possible to consider a new(er) oil pump?

Swap the relief valve spring?

Check for fuel infiltration into the crankcase?

 

Or leave well enough alone?

 

-OB

[Slickster]

That actually sounds high for hot idle oil pressure....lots of older engines, gas and diesel have 7-10 psi at hot idle, it's all about volume, not pressure btw, no worries in your case....

[Sniper]

I didn't see any mention of hot idle oil pressure?

 

Your specs at speed and hot seem a bit low, by the book.  Mine reads about 45ish at similar speeds.  Now at hot idle mine is way low (5 psi ish), but the book says it's ok.

[plymouthcranbrook]

My 52 holds about 40 PSI hot and doesn't drop very much at idle. Maybe to 35 or so. I run 10-40 reg oil.

Edited February 10, 2021 by plymouthcranbrook

[Worden18]

You're fine, drive and have fun.

 

[PareosWC]

Good morning!

 

Hot idle was the same as cold idle.  Just for knowledge, I swapped out a spring that I have from a WW2 Dodge block (seems tighter), and the pressure at cold idle shot up to near 60psi.  I may drive it today and see what the cold idle vs. cruise vs. hot idle will be with that spring.  Either way, it sounds as if she is doing fine..

 

 

[Sniper]

That spring controls maximum pressure, so I wouldn't expect to see much change hot from what you were seeing, unless the original spring was allowing the bypass to function bleeding off oil pressure. 

[dpollo]

An engine without a bypass spring or even without a plunger would make about this much pressure.