oil level

**Karczewski** · 10-23-2011, 01:04 PM

Hey, I'm new to the v8 club, and was just wondering if this is a problem I need to fix or not. When I'm in idle the oil gauge is a little over the middle line and when I drive it gets to 3/4 of the gauge and gets higher as I go faster.. is this normal? I have a 2001 trans am btw

**Smittro** · 10-23-2011, 01:22 PM

I'd say normal..

Oil presure rises with rpm in all engines..

**Karczewski** · 10-23-2011, 01:36 PM

Ok good. Cuz I had a v6 but the oil pressure was always low in idle cuz I had my cats taken off. So I wanted to be sure before I kept driving the way I do, Haha

**KMdef9** · 10-23-2011, 03:47 PM

I red line that gauge when I red line the tach. Does the same in the Jeep.

The gauge isn't completely accurate anyways, just a rough idea, as long as you have pressure, you'll be ok.

**blackSS01** · 10-23-2011, 06:53 PM

As long as your pressure isn't almost near the bottom you are good. The gauge is far from perfect and only a tool that will assist you in determining a rough estimate. If your pressure keeps dropping then you need to worry about something that is happening in the engine. As stated before, as rpm's rise then so shall the oil pressure. Cats taken off a car shouldn't effect oil pressure FYI, two totally different things. I believe as long as you have 20 psi of pressure at idle then the LS1 is fine. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but I'm 95% sure on it.

***SMWS6TA*** · 10-24-2011, 08:07 AM

Op where in AL are you?

**Karczewski** · 10-24-2011, 09:26 AM

Close to huntsville

***SMWS6TA*** · 10-24-2011, 10:36 AM

I asked becasue we have several 'bama members here. I'm near Mobile

**cammed goat** · 10-24-2011, 02:32 PM

I also say you're good. I have a buddy who lives in Huntsville.

**Karczewski** · 10-24-2011, 05:28 PM

Haha, cool. Didn't know there would be some bama people here, Haha

**wileyCoyote** · 10-24-2011, 06:04 PM

mines at like 20psi at idle... i think it's been that way ever since i can remember... normal cruising/operation it ranges between 20psi and maybe 50psi - i drive like a granny

**Karczewski** · 10-24-2011, 06:47 PM

Haha, I have a heavy foot

I start work at 5 and it takes about 30 min to get there but I sleep til 430 and I'm rarely late

**35th-ANV-SS** · 10-24-2011, 08:19 PM

A good rule of thumb is 10psi for every 1000RPM. If you have that or more, you're fine.

**wileyCoyote** · 10-28-2011, 08:28 PM

Originally Posted by 35th-ANV-SS

A good rule of thumb is 10psi for every 1000RPM. If you have that or more, you're fine.

starting from zero, i assume?... meaning idle speed would be maybe 7-8 PSI? i don't think i've ever seen my guage go that low..

**2002ssslp** · 10-28-2011, 08:54 PM

The LS1 can live with as little as 7psi under a light load but 30psi and above is it's happy place. Bearing wear, oil weight, temp and the gauge all have some effect on oil pressure.

**SteveC** · 11-04-2011, 07:17 AM

Originally Posted by Karczewski

Hey, I'm new to the v8 club, and was just wondering if this is a problem I need to fix or not. When I'm in idle the oil gauge is a little over the middle line and when I drive it gets to 3/4 of the gauge and gets higher as I go faster.. is this normal? I have a 2001 trans am btw

Keep in mind that the gauges in our vehicles are "electrical" not mechanical, so in other words you are just getting a general idea of what the oil pressure is, vice a precise reading that the mechanical gauge will give you.

SteveC

***SMWS6TA*** · 11-04-2011, 01:45 PM

Originally Posted by SteveC

Keep in mind that the gauges in our vehicles are "electrical" not mechanical, so in other words you are just getting a general idea of what the oil pressure is, vice a precise reading that the mechanical gauge will give you.

SteveC

True with the exception that 98's are the only yr that the gauges are mechanical. Also we are the only yr that has no sail panel issues.