I've looked but couldn't really find anything on this.

My 69 has a 454 with unknown miles. It doesn't burn oil or leak it.

The problem I have is extremely low (pegged on the mechanical gauge (which is a new replacement)) when warm. 60 when cold.

So, I figured, WTH, lets get an analysis done (attached)

The question is are my bearings bad?

It doesn't make any noise it's not supposed to (has a big cam, solid lifters. roller rockers) so there's no overt rattling or that sort of thing.

So, I did an oil analysis. But this is the first time I've had one done so I'm not terribly sure what it's telling me.

Any advice would be appreciated on this... TIA.

 

They should have been a document that reviewed the meaning of the numbers. I do not see anything that indicates high wear but the only way it would is if this was the oil change that saw the wear. Meaning you can wear a motor out and no one oil change is going to show high wear.

I assume you mean low. pressure I am not sure what pegged means? Zero oil pressure and no noise from the motor? How is it once you rev the motor? If you rev the motor to 2000 RPMs you would need at least 15-20 PSI to stop the rods from hammering.

But if the low end is quiet and you have no oil pressure you are looking at either an oil pump that has a volume issue or just too much clearance in the CAM bearings. You could try a High volume oil pump and see what happens. If there is not a significant change in pressure hot, the bearings are done for, I cannot really say if it is the CAM bearings out the crank bearings until you tear it down.

The fuel in the oil is a little concerning. It seems a little on the high side and could cause wear but that would be mostly on the cylinders. She is on the rich side that is for sure.

 

Well, I've got a high volume pump ready to go in: Melling M-77HV.

I've been confused by how the oil pressure gauge has acted: Like I said, when it's cold, it jumps up to 60 LBS or so, but the warmer it gets, the lower the pressure gets. At idle, it is close to 0. It can't BE 0, because as you pointed out, zero is not well liked by engines. When I'm at 60, I'm doing 2600 RPM or so and the oil pressure doesn't get above the mid teens. It's pretty close to the pressure that was showing on the old gauge which caused me to replace it.

It's not making any noise that shouldn't be there. Certainly nothing noticeable.

The oil was changed around 250 miles or so ago. I wanted the analysis for definitive proof that the bearings were either good or bad. My back up plan is to drop in a stroker 383 I've got in my shop, and then next spring, get the 454 short block gone over with new bearings all around... cam, rod, main.

It's looking like the new oil pump will answer the question, though, doesn't it?

 

You might trying changing the oil again and going with a heavy straight weight like SAE 50 or 60 racing oil.
If your pressure comes up I'd suspect bearings but it might buy you some time to keep her running.

 

Thanks for this. I'll let you know how it works out.

 

OK... went with 50 wt. At start up, it shows around 50 pounds, and it takes noticeably longer to warm up... maybe 5-8 minutes longer, just sitting there at idle. Ambient temperature around 70.

It's "better," but the oil pressure gauge shows around 9 pounds at 1000 RPM and around 25 pounds at 2600 rpm... all at idle at 185 degrees or so.

Looks like the oil pump is the next step... and if that fails, then it looks like a bearing replacement/rebuild. Thoughts?