Idle oil pressure

[Rawze]

As the engine gets older the oil pressure at idle will be less and less as there becomes more and more clearance to all the components.


Thickening the oil with a gallon of gear lube helps

Keeping fresh oil and filters in the engine helps

Putting in new rod/main bearings in or other components that have worn down like rockers etc. helps

If the gear pump gets old enough, replacing it might help.

=====

BTW: 18 psi is the acceptable low for idle pressure, though i do not like to see it that low.

Also, shimming the pump does not help idle pressure by anything much. All that shimming the pump does is dictate what MAX pressure it is allowed to make. It has no effect on any pressures below that point. If the engine is not turning fast enough to make max pressure, the max pressure bleed-off valve simply has not opened yet.