[madmax87]

I just recently aquired a 302DZ and its running good, but my oil pressure is almost pegged when started. It eventually drops off to around 60 when warmed up. I was told the engine was stock. I'm running GTX 20-50 weight oil. Do you think I should run a different weight. I'm in Az so the cold is not an issue. I thought this weight might help with the heat. I run this in my ZZ4 engine without an issue.
Thanks...

[19694speed]

My 396 does the same thing. Oil pressure starts at about 80 psi then drops off to 60 when shes warm.I used 10 40 in the winter and just changed it last week with 20 50 with no change at all in oil pressure.I think you will be fine with the 20 50 year round.
Russ

[Larger Dave]

I agree. And anybody that says 110°F in the shade is tolerable "... because it's a dry heat" has been out in it too long. Your car will thank you for the 50 weight.


Larger Dave

[madmax87]

Great, I will stay with the 20-50. I took it tonight for it's 1st extended drive and it settled down around 40 idle and 60 running. God I love having the 302 back in the car. It's been missing one for about 20yrs. It's so much easier to drive with 4:10 gears than the 3:73 I had in my old one.

[Everett#2390]

The heavier the oil, the more power it takes to pump it. Myself, I'd run 10W30.

I run it in everything I own, except the BMW, its under warranty and they run Castrol 10W60. Where in the world do they come up with this number/grade?

[Larger Dave]

Multi viscosity oil is, as I understand it, all 10 or 20 weight (the smallest number) oil with thermoplastic polymers added to the oil to increase it's viscosity only in reaction to heat. If it doesn't get hot enough to expand the plastic it is still 10 weight; but if you need the added heat protection to compensate for extreme heat build up (either from hard driving in a BMW or externally as in the desert south west) then the plastic is there to protect the engine by increasing the viscosity. I also run 20W50 racing oil in my BBC in Sunny Florida where it hardly ever gets below 74° F (this morning's low) and often pegs 96° F with 70% humidity (the 93 degree high yesterday with 86% humidity feels like 110° F cause it sure isn't a "dry" heat here).


Larger Dave

[67SS&99SS]

My stock 350 has around 80 psi at start up and is around 60 psi cruising, and I run 10w40 havoline. You should be fine. My motor has had high oil pressure from day one, and its been running great for the past 5 years. I'm glad I've got plenty of oil pressure. I don't have to worry about the engine being starved for oil.

[SY1]

Max if you think the little motor likes the 4.10 gears try it with 4.56 or 4.88 sometime! It'll thank you for it!

I'm with you all the way on the short stroke motor. The 68 I'm going to look at Saturday I'm already making plans on pulling the 350 out of it as soon as possible if I buy it, just like the last one.

Dave

[pdq67]

Know what you mean Dave, MO's high humidity grows great corn and soybeans!! We sweat all the time!

I thought it was cool the couple of jobs I did at Tueson years ago! AT 10 AM, it was 94, then at 1 PM it was 104!! I'd drink 5 gallons of water and pee twice a day, plus I would have salt marks all over my dark blue work clothes by the evening.

Bttt, I didn't know how they manipulated the viscosity in multi-grade oils???

Thanks for the explanation.

pdq67