OIl for high temps

[63larkcustom]

On my 59 when the temps get above 106, the oil pressure drops to around 10-15, when the temps are in the 80s and 90s it stays around 20. I'm currently running 15w40 Rotella in the car. Is this normal at the extreme temps to run this low? When running down the road, its running about 40psi at 40mph in overdrive. Thanks in advance.
Bob

[HarryStude]

You are within a good range. I wouldn't worry too much. That is very common for a lot of engines. Especially if it has not been rebuilt.

PROUDLY MADE IN AMERICA

[Tom Bredehoft]

Shop manual suggests 40 psi oil pressure at 40 MPG in high gear. Yours is like new.

[Edit] Yes, of course MPH

[img=left]http://www.alink.com/personal/tbredehoft/Avatar1.jpg[/img=left]
Tom Bredehoft
'53 Commander Coupe (since 1959)
'55 President (6H Y6) State Sedan
(Under Construction 617 hrs.)
'05 Legacy Ltd Wagon
All Indiana built cars

[Lark Hunter]

quote:Originally posted by Tom B

Shop manual suggests 40 psi oil pressure at 40 MPG in high gear. Yours is like new.

[img=left]http://www.alink.com/personal/tbredehoft/Avatar1.jpg[/img=left]
Tom Bredehoft
'53 Commander Coupe (since 1959)
'55 President (6H Y6) State Sedan
(Under Construction 617 hrs.)
'05 Legacy Ltd Wagon
All Indiana built cars

Did you mean MPH?[?]

LH

[Bud]

The oil pressure is fine, don't worry about it. If the ambient air temp is above 100 degrees, the oil temp. is probably in the 220 to 230 deg. range which causes the oil to thin considerably. Bud

[63larkcustom]

thanks guys!

[N8N]

A synthetic oil will likely thin less at high temps than a conventional oil, if you plan on really driving this car hard. however, on an unrebuilt Studebaker, it'll likely leak like a sieve...

you could also add an auxiliary oil cooler if you really wanted, but again, only if you plan on driving the car really hard. I'd be more worried about operator durability without air conditioning at 106 degrees!

nate

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

[rockne10]

It should be noted that on vehicles equipped with an idiot light, rather than an oil gauge, the threshold is somewhere near six PSI.

You're in great shape.

Brad Johnson
Pine Grove Mills, Pa.
'33 Rockne 10, '51 Commander Starlight, '53 Commander Starlight

[63larkcustom]

Your right N8N. I drive about 5 miles each way to work. Thankfully the windwings and vents on front of car definitely keep air moving. Its not so bad w/o the a/c. But.... before another summer comes on it will have it..whether or not it will be able to get out of its own way..