3.1 firebird

I have test driven 4 LT1 cars in the past few days and one thing I noticed about all of them was that the oil pressure guage was not stable. At idle the guage would be on the low side, when you stepped on the gas, or were cruising it would be halfway up, or higher. You can sit at idle with the guage low then give it some gas and watch the guage climb as you press the pedal down. My grandpa told me this means the bearings are getting worn out. I think it is kind of odd though that all of the LT1 cars that I drove did this. I was hoping that it was just the way this engine was designed. If beaing wear causes this then I am going to have a hard time finding a car with a good motor left in it.

BTW, if it is indeed the bearings causing this is a rebuild the only fix? Should I definitely not purchase a car like this?

83CAMAROMAN

as far as i can see this is just the normal operation of any oil pressure indicator........it increases with rpms..........

3.1 firebird

It should go up some, but these cars are going from 20 PSI at idle to 60+ on the throttle and back again.

rezinn

That's fine.

WarlocV

as one increases engine rpms the speed of the oil pump increases with it hence the increase in pressure. this is normal throughout many GM vehicles.

Odyssey

That's very normal. If the car has at least 10 psi per 1000 RPM then it's fine.