The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Oil pressure question.

I was driving my '53 Chev 3600 yesterday...all gauges displaying normal info. Got home, parked and turned off truck. A half hour later started truck to pull into barn. Oil pressure gauge normally reads 15 lbs but now reads about 7 going up slightly when I increase RPMs but not up to 15. Anyone have any ideas. This engine has not been abused; oil changed regularly, only 31,000 miles on the clock (I know this is accurate as truck has been in the family since brand new).

did you check to see if the line going to the gauge might have developed a small leak? or maybe the oil is to thin is it 10w30? maybe going to 10w40 would help. i hope its a easy fix, could be the oil pump getting weak, or worst yet cam bearings getting worn.

I run straight 30 weight oil in it. This truck does not have an oil filter. Is it possible that the line that goes to the gauge has gotten gunked up? Wishful thinking, eh?!

you could always try a diffrent gauge, i would just to make sure your getting a good reading

Has the oil pan ever been off for a connecting rod clearance adjustment? The most common cause of low oil pressure on the splash-oil engines is wear on the connecting rods. It's a pretty simple job to drop the oil pan and take a shim or two out of the connecting rods, just make sure you don't overdo it on tightening up the clearance. I use a product called "Plastigauge" to set the clearance to about .0015".
Jerry

I would check the gauge and the line, setting not running for 1 hour could not have changed anything in the engine ,get a after market oil pressure gauge at FLAPS it will come with a plastic line and fittings for around 15.00 remove the old line and screw the new one in just start the truck and then look at the gauge you could even close the hood and run the line thru the window and take a ride .

Jerry , there is no oil pressure on a splash oil engine at the connecting rods,mains yes ,connecting rods no.


Pete

Good point, Pete. I was thinking about main bearings, not rods, and mis-spoke!
Jerry