Oil Pressure Dilemna

[randomiam]

I'm seeing pretty low oil pressure right now and I'm seeking some ideas of why this is, or steps I might take before ripping this entire engine apart.

Took it for a few initial spins around the block and noticed it was kicking on the oil light when I went to idle the engine -- the idle is hovering right around 500ish right now; Which seems a bit low- Should I be looking to the iacv to this idle issue; replace/or clean it?

Having noticed the oil light, I went and checked the oil level and that was fine. Swapped out the sensor with another that I cleaned up- same results, so not a sensor issue. Bought a manual oil pressure gauge and determined that the car was in fact running at fairly low pressure about 5psi at idle of 5-600rpm and bumping up in accordance with rpm.

I haven't dropped the oil pan to examine the pickup yet. I suppose the oil pump could be some sort of issue but I'm not really sure.

What is everyones average idle: oil pressure ratio?

edit: this is a freshly rebuilt motor with acl bearings and standard clearances on the crank and connecting rods.

[Legacy777]

You should have MUCH higher oil pressure. I would not suggest driving the car any further until you figure out the problem.

When you rebuilt the motor, did you check the oil pump rotors and tighten the backing plate? Did you remember to put the o-ring between the block and oil pick up tube.

I'm at around 23 psi at idle. That is being measured at the same spot the stock oil pressure sensor is located.

[randomiam]

Argh. Definitely got the o-ring for the pickup etc.. Taking the oil pressure from the same location where the stock sensor goes; I guess I'll pull the pan and inspect the pickup, redo or maybe replace the oil pump if it looks suspect; Seems much more likely that this thing will require a tear down though.

I'm running out of ideas as to why the oil pressure would be so low: either pump issue, pickup issue or a bearing clearance/spun bearing issue.

[Legacy777]

Did you replace the o-ring that goes between the block and oil pump? Sometimes the o-ring can move around when you're installing the oil pump. If it moved around, that could be a cause.

Even with a spun bearing or blown out oil squirter, you'd have more oil pressure than that. I'd really focus on the pump, pick up, pan, or o-ring between the block.