Anothere oil question,,,

[Longknife]

I have a 440, stock bore with a cam, dual quads and headers. It also has a Melling HV/HP oil pump and pegs the gauge when the engine is started. The previous owner used Valvoline VR1 10-30 AND added a can of ZDDP. I am considering VR1 in 20-50, Can you have too much oil pressure?

 

[RemCharger]

I like 75/80 on cold start, maybe down to 50 at hot idle. Some say too much pressure is no good ( it'll build too much heat!) ( you'll rip the teeth off the pump drive!) ( you'll rob so much hp!) But a lot of online dyno testing has debunked these internet wives tales.
True testing is our friend
One man's opinion..

 

[Ron H]

You can do LOTS of reading about engine oil suggestions doing a search on the forum. Due to my build, a higher zinc formula is called for. I did considerable research on oil and made a decision to lower the oil weight I was using finding the oil pressure always high and some unnecessary performance issues with it, mostly heat retention. I went with a 10-30w VR-1 after using 20-50 for a while. A stock motor I think would do fine with this weight for street driving. In my case with seasonal driving, oil and filter is changed about every 1000-1200 miles as it is.

 

[Cranky]

I've run a 15-40 in all of my junk and I'm talking about stuff that's 30 years old. My newest vehicle is a 97 2500 with the Cummins diesel and it too gets the 15-40 oil....race cars too and never had a problem. If you have loose bearing clearances then run the heavier stuff imo.

 

[turbine68rt]

You can also try switching to a standard pressure relief spring. I think the standard Mellings are rated at 45psi.

 

[dadsbee]

You saying it "pegs the gauge" with 10W30.... if so why on earth would you go to a thicker oil?

 

[hunt2elk]

You are pegging the oem gauge, or an aftermarket mechanical one? And why would someone dump more ZDDP in with VR1?

 

[rickseeman]

I have a 440, stock bore with a cam, dual quads and headers. It also has a Melling HV/HP oil pump and pegs the gauge when the engine is started. The previous owner used Valvoline VR1 10-30 AND added a can of ZDDP. I am considering VR1 in 20-50, Can you have too much oil pressure?

You didn't say what oil is in it now or how high that gauge goes. You have a HV pump. I'd bet 10-30 would be heavy enough and VR1 has plenty of ZDDP already. I blew a NAPA Gold oil filter up a few weeks ago. That's too much oil pressure. But that car didn't have a gauge so I don't know when it happens. By the way, your car doesn't need much oil pressure to be happy.

 

[MWbirdLOVER70]

You didn't say what oil is in it now or how high that gauge goes. You have a HV pump. I'd bet 10-30 would be heavy enough and VR1 has plenty of ZDDP already. I blew a NAPA Gold oil filter up a few weeks ago. That's too much oil pressure. But that car didn't have a gauge so I don't know when it happens. By the way, your car doesn't need much oil pressure to be happy.

Isn’t the saying 10lbs per 1000 rpm?

 

[Runner 68]

Is it a new engine?
My resent stroker pegged at ~80 PSI on start up on the dyno but settled down to 50 or so after warm up. Still does after a few warm ups.
My machinist / dyno guy said it is normal. Melling HV pump.

 

[rickseeman]

Isn’t the saying 10lbs per 1000 rpm?

Yes, but if you get a little less it won't hurt anything.