Strange Oil Pressure Problem

[cal]

Thanks guys
The pick up should be 1/4" off bottom of pan, if my measurements are right!!!
I use Wix's oil filter # 51060R. 6 quarts of oil plus 1 in the filter.
I will try adding another quart of oil and run it again.
Also guess I'll try 20/50 oil to.
Racing what "FUN" LOL
Cal SST 1177

[ss3011]

Might be the oil is having trouble draining back to the pan . Does the engine have modifications to the drain backs , or something like a magnet has moved blocking drain back holes ?

[Ed Wright]

Cal, a quarter inch is awfully close. I personally would not put thick oil in it with the pick up that close.

I don't claim to know everything, but for years have used 1/2". Too close, I would worry that oil may not flow under the pick up fast enough.

A professional engine builder may say I am full of crap. Heard that one before. LOL

[carl hinkson]

Originally Posted by cal

Thanks guys
The pick up should be 1/4" off bottom of pan, if my measurements are right!!!
I use Wix's oil filter # 51060R. 6 quarts of oil plus 1 in the filter.
I will try adding another quart of oil and run it again.
Also guess I'll try 20/50 oil to.
Racing what "FUN" LOL
Cal SST 1177

Never liked a filter with a micron rating of 61 that .002 piece of debris.

I run the 1061 NAPA gold or the WIX 51061 in all my racing engines 21 Micron rating with the filter bypass plugged or I run the billet adapter.

I have seen this before with a spun cam bearing.

[Ed Wright]

1061 NAPA filter has been great for me, for many years.
I have used Fram filters before going to the 1061 NAPA, but have never seen the oil pressure issues mentioned here.

I cut my oil filters open after each day of running my car. I started doing that in the 1980s, while running my old dirt track sprint cars. Still do it now. Used Fram back then, until I cut the first one apart. Ditto AC. Do that, then cut a NAPA filter apart. You won't use another Fram. I used to know who makes NAPA's filters, but right now that name escapes me. Listen to Carl.

[FED 387]

WIX made. NAPA filters in the past they still do make the Napa gold and platinum on the same assembly line . Fed387

[Rich Biebel]

Wix does make Napa filters and the numbers are the same but with an added prefix number for Wix denoting what type filter it is...

For example

Wix.....51061
Napa...1061


Add a 5 for oil
Add a 4 for air
Add a 3 for fuel...


We use Wix pretty much exclusively at our place of business and I use Wix 51061 R on my own race engine

Having low oil pressure on a warm engine usually indicates very loose clearances or an internal leak.

[hsBrighton]

Based on an embarrassing experience, have you double checked with a second oil pressure gauge? I once had an Autometer mechanical gauge fool me into pulling an engine due to flaky low oil pressure readings. Actual cause was the light bulb in the gauge rubbing on the internal bourdon tube making it read low.

[BillK]

Cal,

Like I told Dave yesterday at the shop I think you guys need to pull it out and check some clearances and make sure all the oil galley plugs are there. I have had an engine with a missing oil galley plug have the exact same symptoms. I know because I was the one that put it together and had to fix it

Either way is it worth taking a chance on killing it completely when it might be a simple fix ?

[Ed Wright]

Originally Posted by BillK

Cal,

Like I told Dave yesterday at the shop I think you guys need to pull it out and check some clearances and make sure all the oil galley plugs are there. I have had an engine with a missing oil galley plug have the exact same symptoms. I know because I was the one that put it together and had to fix it

Either way is it worth taking a chance on killing it completely when it might be a simple fix ?

I agree. I certainly would not leave in the car, or try to run it again.