oil pressure drops after warm up

[Blue88Coupe]

got a motor that a guy races, nothing special has mechanical guages. Oil pressure is at 40 when he cranks it up and as it idles it drops to 0. What could cause it and what should be checked?

[soap]

got a motor that a guy races, nothing special has mechanical guages. Oil pressure is at 40 when he cranks it up and as it idles it drops to 0. What could cause it and what should be checked?

ford/chevy/Dodge? what generation of motor. 4.6 2V/LS1/olds 454 from the 60's???
mods?

[91CoupeMike]

Something expanding and losing seal? A cracked block?

[Blackpony]

Bearing clearances are too loose for that thin of oil. Tell him to put a thicker oil in. Also what oil pump?

[Blue88Coupe]

ford/chevy/Dodge? what generation of motor. 4.6 2V/LS1/olds 454 from the 60's???
mods?

a chevy 350 i think. pre lt1 motor

[034V]

thicker oil needed or rod bearings are going out.

does it rattle when warm under light rpm?

[Blue88Coupe]

thicker oil needed or rod bearings are going out.

does it rattle when warm under light rpm?

yep he says he's got a little rattle in there, not a knock though.

[Blue88Coupe]

He also says he's running rotella but didnt say the specific weight

[Captain Crawfish]

If it had no oil psi it wouldn't last long. Maybe the gauge or ending unit is bad

[racrguy]

If it had no oil psi it wouldn't last long. Maybe the gauge or ending unit is bad

I'd check with another gauge like said here. If it still exhibits the issue, shut it down and rebuild it. If he's already running 15-40, it's not good. Another question, is this a flat tappet or a roller motor?

[Blue88Coupe]

I'd check with another gauge like said here. If it still exhibits the issue, shut it down and rebuild it. If he's already running 15-40, it's not good. Another question, is this a flat tappet or a roller motor?

Dunno of its flat or roller. He said it was fine untill the last time he took it down the track then it started the rattle and oil issue

[racrguy]

Dunno of its flat or roller. He said it was fine untill the last time he took it down the track then it started the rattle and oil issue

Probably a flat tappet, in which case, they do not like todays oils. You need to find something with plenty of zinc to help keep the cam alive, but if he was running it hard when it took a shit, he may have spun a bearing. Have him drop the pan and check it out.

[4eyedwillie]

Probably a flat tappet, in which case, they do not like todays oils. You need to find something with plenty of zinc to help keep the cam alive, but if he was running it hard when it took a shit, he may have spun a bearing. Have him drop the pan and check it out.

The Mobil Super Hi mileage is the easiest oil to get that still has zinc in it. I had a old dodge engineer tell me that. He said that's all he would use in a SRT-4 trans now days.

[racrguy]

The Mobil Super Hi mileage is the easiest oil to get that still has zinc in it. I had a old dodge engineer tell me that. He said that's all he would use in a SRT-4 trans now days.

Do research into oils.

["MrEd"]

I have never had oil pressure go to 0 but it was pretty damn close,oil pressure was great when it was cold and got worse with temp, I ran VR1 20/50.
Come to find out the pick up tube had fallen off.