Boarder Line Low Oil Pressure
That's a good idea but I think that it's only a temporary fix. Like mentioned earlier a plug or something could've not been put in or came loose. It could be a bearing clearance issue or a bad oil pump and possibly the lifter bores could have excess clearance. I don't mean to sound negative here or anything but I think that your not to far from having to take it apart and see what's going on. True, the thicker oil will help for a while but if it's a clearance issue or the pump is bad it will only get worse over time.
Damn Dan, what are you missing? If the clearances were loose when it was machined then it’s not a problem.
I wouldn’t NEVER EVER build an engine to use 20W50.
Why? Because to keep the oil pressure in check you NEED to run loose clearances. I detest that because I have a fundamental working knowledge of how these oiling systems work.
Big clearances make it harder to form an oil wedge between the bearings and the crank. Oil pressure does not keep the crank off the bearings. The oil wedge that’s formed is what does it.
That doesn’t mean oil pressure doesn’t matter as that is what gets the oil to the rods.
A 50 grade oil takes more power.
I could go on but why? The OP’s pressure is low AND HAS BEEN LOW SINCE HE BOUGHT IT and it ain’t ate itself yet.
Like I said, loose clearances and full groove bearings is an oil pressure disaster.
My last personal engine carried a 100 pounds of cold oil pressure. And that was with a 5w30!
This time the clearances are the same (.0021 on the rods and .0024 on 340 mains) but I’m dropping to 0w20. And not some cheap assed bargain basement oil either.
I do what I do because I don’t skimp on **** like oil. I can run tighter clearances because I use a quality oil. If 23 bucks a quart scares you then open up the clearances and use a low quality, higher grade oil.
The cost to set the clearances is next to nothing so why leave them loose? Because we believe the lie that loose is faster and it ******* NOT faster.
Of course, I do block the oil off to the lifters and stop those 16 leaks.
Oil pressure and lubrication are about managing flow and clearances.
I doubt his engine is junk. Going to a higher grade is NOT a fix. It’s the correct oil finally going into the pan.