I know that these old engines are notorious for being able to run with low oil pressure but my question is how low is too low. I’ve finally had a chance to put a few miles on my ‘52 Chevy with a 235 installed. It pegs the needle on the 30 lb. gauge when I first start it but falls to 15 lbs. when it warms up (180 degrees) and running at 35-40 MPH. At idle it drops to almost 0. There is no valve clatter from the hydraulic lifters and no other unusual noises.

I’m running 10w-30 Valvoline.

This seem unusually low to me. This engine was rebuilt in 2013 and then sat for 5 years before I got it.

Your thoughts!

How much oil does it burn? Try 10w40.

I haven’t driven it enough miles to tell if it is using oil. I don’t believe that it is burning oil because it doesn’t smoke and was rebuilt by a PO in a reputable shop. It came with the paperwork to prove it.

possible inaccurate gauge. Id put 15w40 or 20w50 in it. See what gauge does then. Could try a different gauge also. Was the engine broken in or ever ran prior to you getting it?

Heck, I’d try 20W50 oil - it is readily available and costs $20 (Walmart).

I don’t know if it was properly broken in because I didn’t buy it from the owner who had it rebuilt. That was two owners ago. The story I got was it was running when the guy parked it then it sat for five years until it was sold 9/18. I bought it in 2/19 and it wasn’t running supposedly because of an electrical issue. It had many other issues including electrical!

What kind of gauge are you running and where is the line tapped into? I am with the others, try another gauge just to double check. Also, any chance you have an oil filter mounted? If so, what kind?

Stupid question! If it’s a 1952 235, isn’t that still running babbit bar rings? If so, isn’t 15 psi about normal? My 216 normally sits between 10-15 psi.

Please educate me here as I don’t know much about the 235. Didn’t they change to full pressure around 1955.2?

Chris

That is a bit strange because those numbers are about perfect for the low pressure version.

Yes, Chris,

The 1935 engines were babbitted bearings - and, the low pressure oil system, both as you describe.

The original poster/post says at the end of the first post: “ At idle it drops to almost 0.”

That is not good for the engine’s bearings.