For the past few days my stock oil pressure gauge has been reading some funny pressures. It wouldn't read over 15 for a while, then for a while it would be 60 at idle and 30-45 while driving. This is all after 2 years of reading ~30psi at idle and ~60psi while driving.

I don't have a whole lot of time to hook up an actual mechanical gauge (hopefully this weekend that will get done), and I'm not that worried since most oil pressure problems are caused by worn main bearings or a front cover o-ring issue and I have less than 5,000 on a rebuild by a professional. I don't take my car to redline often, and especially not now that I may be having issues (probably just a crappy stock sender).

So all this brings me to the question: how much oil pressure is needed to be safe?

All I've ever read is that it's supposed to be around 30psi at idle and 60psi under load. This is kind of a general question as opposed to an actual "help me" question, since like I said, I have yet to properly diagnose my problem.

 

30 and 60 sounds about right for street driving. We've had pressures below 30 at idle on the race engines with no problem. Racing we go to about 125 or so at high RPM.

 

30/60 does sound/is right, but is that what's needed for engine safety or is lower "fine"?

 

My car idles at ~10 PSI on light oil (10W30). Don't do the eccentric oil jet mod with an NA oil pump if this freaks you out.

Don't trust your stock gauge though. 60 PSI ar 3000+ RPM is within factory spec.

 

Yeah, I'm less worried now. I don't trust the stock gauge much beyond telling me I have oil pressure. I was just kinda curious.