The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop high oil pressure?? 55-60 pounds

I have a rebuilt 261. I primed the pol pump and the engine started without a problem.
The oil presure gage was pegged as soon as I got started driving.

After a few starts it has settled 3/4 way between the 30 and 60 psi mark. Probably around 50-55 psi.

I talked to someone who had a similar problem and he high presure caused oil leaks.

any idesa?
I am thinking about bying a second oil pump and trying to test id to get a little lower pressure.

Major concern is sealing the thing. I am running a 216 valve cover, wtih the 216 draft tube.

The oil guage in my '40 only goes to 30 since that was original. I have a '61 235 so it pegs the guage as would be expected. Are you sure of your guage?
Dennis

I had the gage cluster rebuilt when I picked the engine. the put in a 60 psi gage for me. So I am sure the gage is correct.

Oil pressure isn't blood pressure.....don't get worried too soon

oil pressure @ 180F/70-80C.... idle is what you have to worry about that's working temp....it will do all kinds of things cold

AND what oil are you using?

Leaks happen if you don't seal everything and vent the crankcase....assuming everythings put together right not pressure

Are you running the pressure gauge before or after the filter? Are you running the original filter? If the filter clogs up there should be an internal bypass. If you are using a spin-on make sure you get one that either has a relief or uses a filter that has one built in.

If you just plugged the oil lines and they are the 1/2" NPT sized ones then the oil is not getting to the bearings, causing the high pressure. Have you checked to make sure the head is getting oil?

The only place high oil pressure causes leaks would be the head gasket or the filter and lines.

My 261 runs about 45 lbs cold and about 28 at warm idle on Delo400 15W-40. It runs a bit higher on 50 weight oil.

A LOT OF INFORMATION i WILL TRY TO ANSWER ALL OF THE QUESTIONS.
1. i AM TAKING THE PRESSURE ON THE INPUT SIDE OF THE OIL FILTER.
2. iT IS A SPIN ON FLTER, WITH A PRESURE RELIEF VALCE. fRAM 1516 (i THINK) IT IS FOR THE COMMON FORD.
3. tHE FILTER IS A REMOTE MOUNTED FROM napa. THE FILTER IS ONE THAT THEY RECOMMENDED AS HAVING A BYPAS VALVE BUILT IN.
4. tHE OIL AND FILTER ARE ALL NEW. tHE ENGINE HAS LESS THAN 1 HOUR RUN TIME ON IT.
i HVE 1/2 INCH HIGH PRESSURE STEAL BRAIDED OIL LINES. i AM GETTING GOOD FLOW TO THE FILTER, i DISCONNECTED IT THERE AND CHECKED AS PART OF PRIMING.
5. BY JUST CRANKING THE ENGINE i GET 60 PSI, COLD. i ALSO GET OIL TO THE LIFTERS, I SEE IT FLOWING TO HE LIFTERS WHEN I PRIMED IT. (BOTH WITH A DRILL THEN LATER BY CRANKING WITH NO IGNITION.
5. THE OIL IS 10W30.

i LIKE ALOT OF OIL PRESURE, IT IS GENERALLY GOOD. BUT IT SEEMS STRANGE THAT IT PEGS THE NEEDLE WHEN COLD, AND ONLY DROPPS A LITTLE WHEN WARM.

IT IS A REBUILT ENGINE, SO MAYBE IT IS ALL JUST SO NICE AND TIGHT THAT THERE IS PLENTY OF PRESURE. JUST SEEMED ODD.

IT ALSO SCARED ME A LITTLE WHEN AFTER A 5 MILE DRIVE I HAD LOST A QUART OF OIL.
\MOST WAS A VALVE COVER GASKET THAT SLIPPED DURING INSTALL.
I WILL DRIVE IT TO THE MUFFLER SHOP AGAIN SHORTLY AND SEE HOW IT GOES.