Low oil pressure

magnummopar said

'i am going to go out on a limb and assume the OP is not driving a 300+ hp rear wheel drive
light weight car in the snow. Hopefully its parked in his nice warm garage. if he has 10 psi at idle, I seriously doubt that 20w50 is going to blow his **** up, probably more likely to help it not blow up.

My advise was "My guess on 10 psi is the engine is either worn or improperly built/assembled thus meaning you risk blowing it by ignoring it. Remember,if its 10psi at gauge, one of the first passages from the pump exit, its not going to be that much in the passages in rod journals of the crank at front of the block. My opinion of course."

In the days of old, the oil of choice was Valvoline 20w50 Racing oil. If you dont remember it, ask somebody over 40, they will. It was what we ran.

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I just remember in 1978 turning a rod bearing on an engine with a weak oil pump by putting 20W50 in it just before the next race. (Valvoline or Kendall, I can't remember for sure.) It was a 120 HP 4 banger with a gear type oil pump. It never picked up on the first start up after the change, and the temp was a nice springtime 70 F. So that is why I question the suggestion of 20W50 with an engine in unknown condition and in cold temps: if a worn pump is the issue, then the heavy weight IS indeed a risk.

TO the OP, for minimizing risk in your situation, and assuminng the filter brand change does nothing, my approach would be to pull the oil pump. You can examine the clearances in the pump per the book, and if worn, then you know there is an issue in the pump. If the pump is good on clearances, then you know that either pressure relief valve in the pump is acting up and lowering your oil pressure, or you indeed have worn bearings.