MBrianB

Just got the ZZ502 started two days ago. According to the stock oil pressure gauge I have over 65PSI oil pressure.
The engine is vintage 2002 and has never been run until now. Will this pressure go down? Should I do something to make it drop?
I think I could float a bearing or something at this high of pressure.
Any ideas?

CA-Legal-Vette

MBrianB

30Wt Non-Detergent.

427Hotrod

Don't worry about it. You're not going to hurt a bearing.

Ck with mechanical gauge to ck accuracy of dash gauge.....

If it worries you put in some 10-30 or 5-30.


JIM

MBrianB

Gauge is the stock mechanical one.
I will get another mechanical gauge and put it in a different port and see what happens.

69427

What's your reasoning for running a straight weight oil?

derekderek

And what reasoning behind non-detergent?

cv67

All it needs is 10/30, 40 etc
65 or 70 psi is nothing to worry about especially when colld, once its got some wear, good and warm you may see it drop some.

Put about 50 miles on it, dont run it too hard, dont baby it...make sure its in decent tune then give it hell. No need for long break ins.

ddawson

About the same as mine when cold on M1 0W-40. Drops to about 30psi once hot and at idle.

69427

That's exactly how mine operates.

DRL502

C3 Stroker

Same here....about 70 lb. at start-up, drops to about 30 when warm, goes up to around 60 when you rev it.

flyeri

My ZZ454 and by friends ZZ502 are about the same 65-70psi cold. I believe that engine calls for 5w-30 or 10w-30 standard oil for the first 500 mines and then synthetic if you want after break in. I've run 5w-30 synthetic for about 13000 miles now with no issues. I have around 30psi at idle and 50-55psi above 1500 rpm when hot.

L88Plus

Float a bearing? Never heard of that one.
Some of the older Fords run in excess of 100psi oil pressure and they don't have excessive oil pressure caused issues.

I'd much rather see 70psi than 7psi!

MBrianB

Thanks for all the reassuring replies. I feel better now about the mill. I have been out of town for a week but I will put in the 5W-30 tomorrow and report back.
Thanks again ALL.

7T1vette

What sending unit did you put in the new engine? If you installed the same unit at in the old engine, it should work fine. If you put thread sealant on it, the electrical ground for that signal could be impeded or completely removed and the gauge would read 'high'.

MBrianB

No sending unit with original gauge. It has a pressure tube.

7T1vette

OK, it's a mechanical oil pressure gauge. If you just plumbed that into the new engine, it should work just fine. What oil are you using and what oil pressure SHOULD the new engine produce (with your oil weight and brand)? Those specifications should be with the info on your engine...or you could find them with info on the web about your new engine.

MBrianB

With 5W-30 oil it is running 50-60 PSI.
Manual says:
6 psig@1000 RPM
18 psig @2000 RPM
24 psig@4000 RPM
With 5W-30 non-synthetic

7T1vette

I think you should call the vendor and report the excessively high oil pressure. It could be as simple as installing a higher pressure pump and specified (different regulator spring)...or as bad as having some main oil flow route blockage (machining error). I would think the vendor would rather know about it now than to get a high dollar warranty bill later.

A cold engine will always show more oil pressure than what it will be when fully warmed up. But, 70 psi would be higher than expected. Stick an accurate pressure gauge in the system and see how it compares. Your car's gauge could be substantially in error, also.