Worries about Drive Fl to CA

[PalmHarborBlkv6]

I may move back to CA from central Florida and I am concerned about the long drive on the engine. I have an engine that was gotten from a junk yard...oil pressure is not at 12:00 as it was with the old engine before it blew a rod. As the car is driven the oil pressure is between 60 and the first white mark on the left. After about 15 minutes at 60-70 it drops to just above the first white mark on the left. Its a long 5 day drive from Fl to Ca and I am wondering if I should just ship the car or trust it to make the trip.
I replaced the TPS two weeks ago. Intake manifold gasket replaced in December along with professional radiator flush and water pump replacement as well as thermostat. Any thoughts?

[2.8 Bird]

Re: Worries about Drive Fl to CA

Yeah, I wouldn't risk it. Just get a new oil pump in there before driving it to Cali.

[ssms5411]

Re: Worries about Drive Fl to CA

Sounds like the oil PSI is normal, but if your worried and have the means to have it shipped then might as well ship it.

[PalmHarborBlkv6]

Re: Worries about Drive Fl to CA

Yeah, I wouldn't risk it. Just get a new oil pump in there before driving it to Cali.

How big a job is it to install a new oil pump?

[ssms5411]

Re: Worries about Drive Fl to CA

How big a job is it to install a new oil pump?

You have to pull the front cover and then do the oil pump and then I would do the spring for the oil psi also while its off also.

[PalmHarborBlkv6]

Re: Worries about Drive Fl to CA

So, you are saying it is or is not a big deal???

[techsan23]

Re: Worries about Drive Fl to CA

Hardest part is breaking loose the crank pulley bolt. It just depends on what your comfortable with doing. It's just bolt off and bolt on, but it sounds like you could benefit from picking up a Haynes manual if your going to do it yourself.

[ssms5411]

Re: Worries about Drive Fl to CA

If its saying your around 60 PSI you should be fine, but also know the oil pressure senders are not the most accurate sensors for telling the true PSI of the oil pressure. Only way to know is to hook up a mechanical gauge and see where its at.

[PalmHarborBlkv6]

Re: Worries about Drive Fl to CA

No it does not say 60, the needle is between 60 and the first unlabeled line to the lift...GM did not see fit to assign a number to that line thinking we did not need to know....as time goes on...maybe 40 min at highway speeds, it goes lower.

[Docta]

Re: Worries about Drive Fl to CA

Again, you're going by an inaccurate gauge. Plus, if the pump is working, which it seems to be, the pressure is determined mostly by the bottom end, not the pump. Pump creates flow, and the passges it has to travel through create the pressure.

[2.8 Bird]

Re: Worries about Drive Fl to CA

Again, you're going by an inaccurate gauge. Plus, if the pump is working, which it seems to be, the pressure is determined mostly by the bottom end, not the pump. Pump creates flow, and the passges it has to travel through create the pressure.

We really don't know if he does have an inaccurate gauge. It was a weak oil pump that damaged my sister's nissan sentra.

It's more economical to replace that pump than to replace the whole engine again. It would also be more economical for him to drive it to Cali than to have it delivered.

[2.8 Bird]

Re: Worries about Drive Fl to CA

Probably what I would recommend is to drive your car around and go for long distance. Listen to your engine and see if there's a ticking sound.

[PalmHarborBlkv6]

Re: Worries about Drive Fl to CA

the sender to the gauge was replaced about 6 months ago.

[htmabe]

Re: Worries about Drive Fl to CA

Docta said it best, nothing to do with pump it's all about the passages the oil travels through mainly the cam bearings. 3.8's are tough as nails though when I race mine with sae 50 oil I start with about 75 psi and around 15 laps later I'm down around 50. That's running hard 7500 rpm range well above gm s intended use. Perhaps that explains the valve through the piston on several occasions lol.

[nascar24jd]

New sender and new gauge are still not accurate. Put a mechanical gauge to test the real pressure. That will tell you what shape the engine is in on the inside.