Oil pressure questions.

[Gatt9]

Ok, like everyone else, I have had the oil pressure is at 60 under load, drops at idle thing, and I've read that's ok.

Went out yesterday, got stuck in traffic, engine temp hit around 195 while idling with the fan on(Figured out how to use the AC like a manual fan!). Got home, and my oil pressure was down to 40 under load and about the same at idle.

Today even on a cold start it's staying there.

Recently did the PCV, and I know I have a minor leak on the passenger side valve cover. Oil dipstick reads oddly, stone cold I pull out my dipstick and half the thing is covered, even after wiping, but it's oil and nothing foreign. I know there's only 5 quarts in the thing. I haven't seen any oil on the ground either.

I'm doing the valve cover Tues or Thurs, but it's been leaking for awhile with no effect on the pressure that I've seen. What else should I be looking at? Engine's running perfectly except for a slight tick after driving for a bit that I'm assuming is a lifter getting stuck.

I did seafoam it about 6 weeks ago, and only drove it for a little under 100 miles with it in, so I'm thinking maybe I freed up some glob of gunk that exposed some other leak or something?

It's a 98 firebird if that's any help.

Edit: I have seen some odd black floaties in the radiator with the cap off, just little ones, like some particle or liquid floating on top. Don't know if oil can get into the coolant? I also have a god awful smell after the engine gets warm, like something rotting, but I was attributing that to my leaking power steering pump or the coated headers, and am waiting for a new PSP to rule that out.

Could that be significant?

[Smoke Panther]

Re: Oil pressure questions.

Edit: I have seen some odd black floaties in the radiator with the cap off, just little ones, like some particle or liquid floating on top. Don't know if oil can get into the coolant?

Oil can, via a failed gasket somewhere. However, that would most likely not be the case in this situation, because when oil and coolant mix, the oil breaks down into a creamy substance; it wouldn't make neat little floating particles.

I also have a god awful smell after the engine gets warm, like something rotting, but I was attributing that to my leaking power steering pump or the coated headers, and am waiting for a new PSP to rule that out.

Could that be significant?

how often does it make this smell, and how long does it last? Does it go away after being warm for a few minutes, or is it persistant? Has the car sat in heavy rain recently?

[Gatt9]

Re: Oil pressure questions.

how often does it make this smell, and how long does it last? Does it go away after being warm for a few minutes, or is it persistant? Has the car sat in heavy rain recently?

Pretty much every time I drive when the car gets up to operating temp, around 180 degrees with the thermostat I have in.

It's persistant, doesn't seem to stop but when the car's moving it's not noticable except for occasional "whiffs", when I'm at a stop after a few seconds it is pretty strong.

No, it hasn't sat in heavy rain.

One other thing, I got it back from the exhaust install when it was cold, and I didn't notice it then. When it warmed up last week, around 60-70 degrees, that's when I started noticing it.

At times, when moving with the AC on, instead of the "Rotting" odor I get a chemical odor, only with the AC on.

Ty Smoke for taking the time!

[bigbrian442]

Re: Oil pressure questions.

If the oil is over full that far I think I would change it and the filter, just to make sure only oil is in there.