Hi all I have a 57 super and when cold the oil pressure stays within the normal range but once it worms up it drops down to just above the L mark on the oil pressure gauge at idle and light throttle as soon as I get going above 30mph or Rev it the pressure climes quickly is this normal or do I have a worn oil pump or engine? Any help as I don't want to kill it and I'm getting paranoid watching it everytime I stop! Thanks Simon
Unless its been rebuilt, you have a worn engine, but what your seeing is fairly normal for an old car I cant see inside your engine or hear it, but assuming its all fine, look at a higher viscosity oil, could be worth looking at an oil additive like nulon or simmilar
Thanks Mick, no the engine is original by the look of it, it's only got 53k miles on the clock if that's correct your guess is as good as mine! Ok I will try a thicker oil but as long as it's not just about to die on me I can sleep easy for a while till I get it rebuilt thanks simon
Get a real oil pressure gauge on the engine and get some real numbers. "L" doesn't mean anything especially if you are dealing with a nearly 60 year old component.
Mine does the same. It keeps higher oil pressure in cooler weather. I'm going to replace the radiator. And, I like the advice of installing gauges with real numbers. I was shopping some gauges today.
yes this is normal for your 57 Buick. It does not have that high of psi to begin with. The standard original needle gauges are very accurate and dependable. Go get an external good quality oil psi gauge and install via a "Y" connection into the same location where the stock peg goes. With both connected to the engine head take out your copy of a 1957 Buick Shop Manual, and perform your various idle and rpm tests as described in the manual. Note where on your dash gauge needle is at the various rpm test ranges and for now diagram them down on paper for reference. Do all the tests with a fully warmed engine. Report back here with the results.
