my engine was dropping from 60# cold down to 18# hot a while back. I changed gauges to rule the gauge out. I the pulled the engine, tore it down and found no reason for the pressure drop. I installed a new pump and the problem went away. That was a couple of years ago and now its doing the exact same thing. With the engine at 180 degrees and idling at 850 I have 20# but if I raise the idle to 950 it jumps to 60#. Any ideas?

Every motor I've seen with those symtoms has had the same issue-BIG bearing clearances somewhere or shot bearings.

The engine is on the tight side and on the previous checkout I found no bearing problems. Its puzzling to say the least

Its fine,forget about it.

20lbs oil psi with hot motor @ 850rpm idle is fine and then going to 60lbs oilpsi @ 950-1k rpms shows you have tight bottom end clearances,the motor is ok.

BTW,what brand and grade/wt oil are you running ?

Scott

What Scott said. That's absolutely normal in every way. Why do you think there's a problem? 20lbs hot idle is great, how much do you think it needs at idle? Hint: factory warning light sender activates at 3-5lbs. 60 hot on the road is perfect.

I hate to tell you but I think that last pull and teardown was not time well spent.

Think about this: what exactly would be "better" about having higher pressure at hot idle? What's the benefit?

I've been running pennzoil 30 and plan to go to 10/30 my dad's Camaro has basically the same engine and the switch cut time off the et. After thinking about it, its been about 5 years since I spent much time on the car so I have forgotten some of its ways.