What is an acceptable oil pressure for a 99 3.8L w/182,000 miles at idle after the engine is good and hot?

Thanks.

 

10 lbs would be about as low as i would like to see it. are the lifters rattling?

 

Mine after I spun a bearing stayed about 10 lbs and made noises it never made before. The 3800 likes about 40-60 lbs while driving and 30-40 at idle. It should be in the middle of the gauge.

Massey

 

Thanks for the replies.

Yeah, my lifters have been tapping at startup. Happens most when I park on an incline. This will generally last less than an a minute, and it doesn't do it everytime.

The dash gauge shows it at 40 psi, or sometimes slightly below, at idle when the engine gets hot. As late as last year, this would be closer to 55.

I just ran seafoam through the oil system for about 200 miles, then changed oil and that seems to have helped for now. Pressure is up about 10 psi. We'll see how it holds up.

 

Your lifter noise isn't due to your oil pressure, which is good by the way. Often times the noise is from them being gummed or sludged up. I've had good success with having pure synthetic oil clear up the noise too, provided the engine wasn't already using it. That's what synthetic does though, gets and keeps the innards clean.

 

thats unusual for the pressure to go up after a cleaning, same for lifters to chatter at startup. would indicate a blockage of some sort and a second issue like a flat cam. not saying thats what it is just possible, could be lifter or two goin south. are all the lifters clattering or is it like a tic tic tic?

 

Forgot to mention the lifter chatter has also stopped after the seafoam treatment. I'm thinking something was gummed up, like maybe the oil pickup screen or something. Certainly is better now than it was.

Thanks for the replies.