Oil Pressure ???

[stall]

I have a bone stock 55 V8 (259). My owners manual states oil pressure should be 20 to 40 PSI at 40 MPH. My Speedster consistantly runs at 50 to 60. The engine I believe is original with 70K on the odometer.
It leaks but doesnt smoke at all.

Car seems to run great but I'm wondering if maybe the relief valve is kaput and if I'm doing damage.

Happy Trails

http://sites.google.com/site/intrigu...tivehistories/

http://studebakerspeedster.blogspot....s-new-v-8.html

[BobPalma]

What weight oil are you running, Murray, and do you use any thickeners like STP?

I doubt there's anything wrong with the oil pressure relief valve parts. However, it sounds like it ought to be cleaned.

If the pressure is still that high with the oil pressure relief valve having been properly cleaned and known to be functioning well, I wouldn't worry about it. BP

[Bud]

Both of my 289's run somewhere between 50 and 60 psi oil pressure when they're at cruise with 15w-40 oil in the pan and the engines are warm. Check the relief valve if it hasn't been cleaned lately, but that isn't excessively high oil pressure, I wouldn't worry about it. Bud

[DEEPNHOCK]

Have you serviced that valve?
It requires regular servicing according to the service manual.
It is not hard to do (but getting to it can be hard)
Do you have a service manual?
Jeff[8D]

quote:Originally posted by stall
<snip>
Car seems to run great but I'm wondering if maybe the relief valve is kaput and if I'm doing damage.
<snip>

http://community.webshots.com/user/deepnhock

[N8N]

I believe that's a minimum pressure. If you have serviced the OPRV and can see oil getting everywhere it needs to be (pull the valve covers and make sure it's getting to all the rockers) I would not spend any more time worrying about it.

nate

--
55 Commander Starlight
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

[stall]

Thanks for the help guys; This forum is great

Happy Trails

http://sites.google.com/site/intrigu...tivehistories/

http://studebakerspeedster.blogspot....s-new-v-8.html

[WCP]

When you remove the OPRV check the inside surface of the threaded plug. It should be smooth and bear evenly on the spring. My '63 Hawk always started with 80psi oil pressure and settled at 60+ when hot. After many years of ownership, I began to do my own maintenance and when servicing the OPRV I found that that plug hadn't been finished properly and the upset metal at the base hadn't been machined flat. A few minutes with a file corrected the problem, resulting in more normal pressure readings of 60+ at cold start and 50-60psi hot.