I have a 97 sst that i just finished building, Rebuilt motor and tranny it has 300 miles on the new set up. When i come to a stop in drive the oil light some times comes on, Only half the time... and the pressure used to be at a steady 40psi now its in the middle of 0 and 40 at idle. If im stopped and the light comes on i can give it just a little bit of gas and the oil light will go off it will also turn off if i put it in neutral


The motor has had all most every thing replaced all ready , has new oil pump screen and switch

Any input??? i have to drive this truck across the state tomorrow and cant afford any thing to happen

 

Define "replaced almost everything".

 

IMO its a faulty sending unit...can you hear the lifters rattling?

 

did you replace all the rod and main bearings?

 

Yeah motor runs very stong. All new rods bearings pistons seals, inspected every thing.
cap wires spark plugs and sensors whole shabang ...

No lifters rattling or funny noises motor sounds healthy

i keep blowing the oid fuse to ???

 

I can hear a small tick now that accelerates with the rpms sounds like the lifters, You can only hear it when you give it more then 1/4 throttle. i changed the oil with 10w 30 mobil one and the lucas new car formula additive... still ticks???

 

Screw a mechanical gauge into it, and see what the pressure is REALLY doing. Sounds for all the world like a failed sending unit.

 

Thats the oil pressure switch right behind the intake right?

I was reading around the forum and some one was saying every 1000 rpms you should have 10psi, so at say 5000 rpms it should read 50? if the sending unit is fine, and they are right about that then im thinking i have a problem i need to take care of right away before i damage any thing because my gauge never reads over 40 at any rpm

Thanks for the help guys

 

That is the rule of thumb, yes. But..... pumps also have pressure regulators built in. They can develop a LOT more pressure than you really need as well. So, they are limited by the regulator. What it is regulated TO is anyones guess...... On a new motor, with a new pump, I would actually expect to see pressure around at LEAST 30 PSI at idle, fully warmed up. My truck, with a 160K+ miles on it.... sits right around 40, no matter what I do, or engine temp. (and yes, the gauge actually does work...)

You REALLY need to verify the problem there, and find out what's up. Oil starvation gets expensive in a BIG hurry.