oil pressure

[cooter9]

on my 49 288 my service manual says 40 pds. oil pressure at driving speeds. I am getting around 30. About 20 when at idle, it does run really good. Don't worry about it?

[Guest Randy Berger]

I would double check it with a direct reading gauge. It doesn't sound right for 20 lbs at idle and only 30 when running. Either the the gauge or the sending unit are suspect.

[cooter9]

Never have checked it with a direct reading gauge, where can I get one and how does it work? Also can you be specific as to sendfing unit checking and repair?

[Guest imported_Speedster]

That's almost the exact readings I get on my '37 Senior, 18 to 20 at Idle and about 30 to 35 at acceleration. There is an adjustable Maximum pressure Control (bypass) Valve mounted on left side of engine, which probable keeps it below 35. (I've never changed it to find out)

There's no sending unit on these gauges, the oil is piped into the gauge and pressure is read internally. The '49 gauge is probably the Same? If it has the adjustable valve then you may be able to get it up to 40 but I would think 30 would be enough. Sorry, I don't have much Information on PostWar Straight 8s, as to where the best place to connect another pressure guage, but the line that goes thru firewall, to the dash gauge, may be a good place, then you will be measureing the pressure from the same line. It should be fairly easy to (T) into that oil line.