I'm just saying

 

I don't want to argue about boutique vs. store brand. I already have the oil, so I'm not going to waste it. I wasn't expecting the issue when I rebuilt the motor. The thought never even cross my mine to run 20w50 until now.

 

Yeah, fill it right up with something that's probably going to give you even less oil pressure. Good choice!

 

So I ended up putting in 20W50 Castrol GTX. Haven't had a chance to check out the oil pressure yet as I was busy all weekend. Have to travel for work this week, but will do that and report back.

 

So it's been a while since I've followed up with this thread. Been very busy with work. Anyways, I got a cheap oil pressure gauge on the car not too long ago. Since the post, I change the OEM pressure switch for a new one, and also switched to 20W50 as I mentioned in the last post. I no longer get the oil light in the dash. What I forgot to mention in the original post is that I have deleted the oil cooler with the STM kit.

As of last night, I'm getting 25psi on cold start, and 12 psi warmed up. A local guy who has a 2.3L build told me his was around 11psi also. So I proceeded to check oil pressure at different RPMs. I did this by just revving up in neutral, not drving around.

25psi @ 2K
45psi @ 3k
60psi @ 4k
60psi @ 5k

Any advice if this is okay. Should I be seeing higher pressures? Is this normal for not putting the motor under load by driving it?

 

I have way higher oil pressure than you do... I have a built 2.0, Wiseco pistons, Manley I beams, oil cooler and balance shaft delete kits, Brad Penn 20w 50 and my idle is around 40 when warm, and cruising is at or around 80-90 psi. I pm'ed a pretty big shop about the pressure and he said it was perfectly normally pressures for my setup.

I know when I was stock block the pressure was much much less. The thicker the oil, the less it travels through, oil cooler and BS delete, the higher the pressure will be.

 

Thanks for your response. I hear alot of people say stock is around 15-20 when warm, although I've also seen some people say their's is really low. My buddy with a nearly stock IX gets 13psi at idle. I notice you said 80-90psi when cruising. I haven't driven the car yet, which is why I don't know what my cruising pressure is.