Re: oil pressure

Posted by Tim Cole On 2011/12/20 17:38:03

To Morgan:

Before you condemn your oil pump, you need to validate that you have an oil pressure problem rather than a gauge problem.

Erratic gauge readings are characteristic of a poor connection - usually ground, broken sender, or worn out gauge. Thus, test your pressure with a gauge.

Also, anytime a one of these motors is rebuilt the gauge and sender need to be sent out and calibrated/rebuilt.

The last 56 I worked on had a brand new engine with a cracked blocked. They didn't rebuilt the radiator. The car then sat in storage for years and was done so long ago that it had an NOS Packard oil pump with all the updates. When I started the new motor the oil pressure was low, but the lifters quiet. The oil pressure was fine, but the gauge was shot.

The last thing you want to do is start putting goop into a motor to correct an oil pressure concern without first validating the problem. Heavy oils can damage parts and Packard advised against using heavy grades of motor oil except to reduce oil burning. The V-8 is a 10w-30 motor, although if a motor is worn out heavier oil probably won't hurt anything.

Hope this helps