Oil Pressure Question

[96Maro]

I have a 1996 Camaro 3.8 V6. The old motor went out so we put a 97 camaro 3.8 in it last month. When the car is warmed up and at idle the pressure stays a little above the 1/4 mark on the oil pressure gauge. When the car is warmed up and going down the road the ol pressure is right at the 1/2 mark. Is this normal oil pressure or is it too low? I am trying to decide if i should keep the car or not. Thanks.

[89IROC&RS]

yeah that sounds fine. you dont want full pressure, youll burn up your oil pump, and you probly ahve a blocked oil passage. 1.4 at idle, and 1/2 at cruizing is normal.

[89IROC&RS]

1.4 = 1/4 whoops

[96Maro]

Thanks for the imput. My friend has a 96 rs with about 170,000 on it. He rides it hard all the time but his oil pressure seems to be a little higher than mine. His always stay at 1/2 even at idle. I just wanna make sure mine is ok.

[89IROC&RS]

yeah man, your good, just remember that those guages are more like Idiot lights than autometer caliber guages, if it dropps to zero or pegs at full pressure, you got a problem, anything between, pretty much ok unless you hear something like a ticking from the engine.

[Lotus49]

mine is always pegged.. even when i 1st start it up..after about 3000 it drops down a lottle below 60.but not much... i tried replacing the sensor... i even called the previous owner... he the pressure has awlays been pegged.. even when he replaced the engine :O

[89IROC&RS]

um..... thats an odd one. oil pressure is usuallyhigher while the oil is cool, and pressure drops as it warms up, you might need a new guage cluster, the oil pressure guage may be out of calibration.