I'm curious if just replacing the bearing would fix the problem or buy extra time? If the answer is extra time, how long? As I understand it its the bearings that are most likely the problem.

also - checking the oil pressure at idle; is that in gear or neutral/park ?

here is the initial pressure at idle (in gear)


here is the initial pressure at around 2k RPM'* (in gear)



so, I take back my original thoughts on the superiority of the Mobile 1 I put in. After a 40 minute drive in 80*F weather, the pressure dropped below my liking again.

here is the pressure now at idle (in gear)


and here is the pressure now at around 2k RPM'* (in gear)


its better, but its not perfect.. should I be worried?

Worried - not yet.

Your next step is to put on a mechanical gauge and verify your readings.
Then the gearheads can answer the worried part.

I'm worried

Keep a VERY close eye on it. My pressure was fine then got real low real quick. Ask boostmaster flex

"Boosty Its at 20 psi @ 200 F @ 2,000 rpm"

both my SE and SSEi both do the same thing when Very hot and in gear and stopped.

but both are find when cold or with at 1.5K RPM

Andrew, I wouldn't be TOO worried yet. But if I were in your shoes I would definitely be keeping an eye on it.

The first pic which was close to 20 would start to scare me, but the second one was a little better. My 03 hit 30psi once or twice @ idle on some hotter days. Lately with temps between 70-80, I idle at 40psi in gear.

Your pressure while driving is right on though. Sometimes I get 75 psi, usually going up hill, when not fully warmed up. Today it was one line below 80. Kind of scared the crap out of me. :?

yes.. it was very hot today.. and I was driving in the heat of the day for 40 miles...

I have my eye on it obviously :(

i would check t with a real gauge an see what it is....

i just have a feeling that these dash gauges arnt that accurate at the low end.

Me SE has always dont that from the day i got it.. and i have put almost 50K on her (hard miles) and still runs the same/better then when i got her.

I always noticed my oil pressure would be slightly higher when I was in need of a change. I would be worrying myself; my old L67 even after spinning a bearing would have just under 40 psi oil pressure at 200 hot idle with 173k on the motor. Andrew watch your oil pressure carefully, changing to a different oil to bring your pressure up is a patch. How many miles are on that motor?

Ed

Haro-

I have observed many of our cars behave that way, including my own. Even some posters in this thread confirm the same behavior with their gauge, and yet their cars are running strong. As we know already the oil pressure gauges are not to be trusted. Get a mechanical gauge on there to confirm it. I am not at all surprised by your reading considering it was a hot day. And it should be that way too since oil thins as it gets hot.

I see no reason for alarm yet.