Thread: Too much oil pressure?

Hey guys,

Need some opinions please. How much is too much oil pressure? And is it harmful to your motor?

I'm running a VDO gauge setup with a 10 bar (145psi) sensor and gauge. Now, on cold start up and on full throttle it literally reads off the scale. My guess is in excess of 160-190psi.
At warm idle its around 58psi.

I'm using 15w40 oil at the moment.





As far as I remember this is a stock 16ve oil pump bought off Pten on the forum - formone of the 16ve's he disassembeled. It is possible my engine builder shimmed the pump inthe past but I don't recall that being the case.

my cold idle with 15w40 is about 90psi, warm is about 35-40psi either way once im wot an above 2500 rpm that shit pegs the 100psi mark, which is as high as my gauge reads lol.. my motors never been apart tho..

That's a cool looking setup you got there!

Thanks storm. More details on the setup here if you're interested: http://www.sr20-forum.com/audio-electronics/69788-right-track-aftermarket-gauge-oem-cluster.html



Any more insight into the oil pressure issue anyone? I know a ve pump flows a lot but this does seem a bit excessive no? The vdo sensor is pretty expensive but I think I need to switch it out for another one to rule out that it may be faulty.

Pressure sounds right for a VE pump and combination of the oil viscosity you are using.

Great work on the gauges by the way.

These pressures are right. I was running a 16ve oil pump with acl bearing (more clearance than factory) and 10-40 oil.

used 15-40 on my build.... cold 100+psi, warm 30-40psi, vvl on a billion psi.... I sware, tru story.

Ok so seems I have nearly double what you guys get, yet you say its normal?

do you think that it being an electronic gauge could have anything to do with it?

my gauge is mechanical.

Mine is also mechanical. But I think I found a problem. Tested the vdo sensor and I think it's faulty. Wired in another cheap brand sensor and it works. Vdo sensors are so damn pricey. About $125 for the oil pressure sensor.

Also, the wiring diagram on the vdo is not working for me.

If I'd run the pin marked G to the gauge for signal,and WK to gnd, the the gauge works. If I run the oem oil pressure light to WK the light simply stays on continuously aNd then the gauge doesn't function. It goes past max and stays there. As if it's not recognizing the oem oil pressure wire as a gnd. I always thought the oem oil pressure light was the gnd connection for the light?