Oil Pressure after running awhile?

[VelodromeRacer]

Can anyone give me an idea what oil pressure should be on our 3000 engine after running awhile? I had the engine rebuilt over a year ago, it runs fine but I have noticed at a very low idle (300-400 rpm)after running down the highway, the oil pressure is between 10-20 on the gauge?

What could be the issue if it is not correct?

 

[Keoke]

Well Velodrome Racer, it depends some what on the weight of oil you are using. The running temperature of the engine and of course the idle speed. Normally a Healey engine in good nick idling at about 800 -to -1000 Rpm will show an oil pressure in the range of 30-to-40 Psi at. Where there is a fault in the engine it most generally shows up as excess wear in the rocker shaft assembly. This wear can be located by removing the valve cover and checking on the oil flow from the shaft. If little guisers of oil are seen or just an abundance of oil flowing that may identify your problem.---Fwiw--Keoke

 

[Healey 100]

My Healey has much lower oil pressure than Keoke says, just around 10 psi at a low idle with a hot engine. It does much better, of course, when cold or at higher speed.

I would not be too concerned about it, the idle pressure varies like crazy with engine temp and idle speed. At 2500 rpm or more, I would look for pressure around 35 to 45 psi on a hot day with a recently rebuilt engine. My Healey is a bit worn and runs about 25-35 psi under those conditions.

Bill S
Albuquerque

 

[VelodromeRacer]

Thanks gang!

 

[Stretch]

The shop manual says 20 psi at 600rpm.