Low idle oil pressure, after high volume pump install.

[domsaleo]

2011 ram 1500 5.7

So I recently replaced my MDS lifters with non-MDS, replaced the oil pump with melling high volume oil pump, and installed an MMX NSR NTR camshaft. I also switched to a slighty thicker M1 5w-30 oil.

(MDS delete purchased through moes performance.)

Cold start: 80+ psi

Driving operating temp: 65+ psi

Idle operating temp: ~24 psi


I feel like the idle pressure is way low considering the pump. I know the truck idles pretty damn low as it is, but without being able to adjust the idle at all I am worried that I could run into the same lifter issue down the road. Any ideas? Thanks

 

[Brandon-w]

From what I've read 20 psi minimum oil Pressure at idle. Cheapest easiest thing id start with is the oil filter. Swap it for something else. Throw a big srt filter on it. Even if it's a new filter it can cause restrictions I've seen it a few times and experienced it once. Swapped the oil filter and went from 42 psi to 65. The main question is what is your idle set at? Is it lower than factory? If it is bump it up because low idle on hemis doesn't get enough oil splash from the crank to the cam.

 

[domsaleo]

It is stock idle. Around 500 ish rpm. I'm using the 899 Mopar filter. Which one you think might help? I've never used a different filter.

I have an old super chips, but can't modify the idle with it unfortunately. Just ever so slightly higher rpm jumps up to 35+

 

[DILLIGAF]

The only way to get good oil pressure at idle is tune it to 750rpm.

 

[Brandon-w]

The only way to get good oil pressure at idle is tune it to 750rpm.

That's better for the cam anyways.

 

[domsaleo]

Guess I'll have to hit up a tuner around me. Hopefully they don't r*pe me for what seems to me be a simple change. Can't justify buying a $400+ diablo just for that.

Thanks

 

[Wild one]

Guess I'll have to hit up a tuner around me. Hopefully they don't r*pe me for what seems to me be a simple change. Can't justify buying a $400+ diablo just for that.

Thanks

It's going to cost you more then $400 to have a tuner up your idle rpm,as you'll still have to buy either a Diablo tuner,or HP's platform,then pay a tuner to give you a custom tune.
You can buy a cheap mechanical tester,and see what it's actual idle pressure is.

Amazon.com: BTSHUB Engine Oil Pressure Tester Gauge and Transmission Fluid Diagnostic Test Tool Kit, 500 PSI / 35 Bar Gauge with Adapters Case : Automotive

Buy BTSHUB Engine Oil Pressure Tester Gauge and Transmission Fluid Diagnostic Test Tool Kit, 500 PSI / 35 Bar Gauge with Adapters Case: Fuel Pressure Testers - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

[Brandon-w]

It's going to cost you more then $400 to have a tuner up your idle rpm,as you'll still have to buy either a Diablo tuner,or HP's platform,then pay a tuner to give you a custom tune.
You can buy a cheap mechanical tester,and see what it's actual idle pressure is.

Amazon.com: BTSHUB Engine Oil Pressure Tester Gauge and Transmission Fluid Diagnostic Test Tool Kit, 500 PSI / 35 Bar Gauge with Adapters Case : Automotive

Buy BTSHUB Engine Oil Pressure Tester Gauge and Transmission Fluid Diagnostic Test Tool Kit, 500 PSI / 35 Bar Gauge with Adapters Case: Fuel Pressure Testers - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Wait you mean to say dodges gauges are inaccurate?

 

[Wild one]

Wait you mean to say dodges gauges are inaccurate?

Nope they're dead accurate with-in a + / - factor of 50%

 

[domsaleo]

It's going to cost you more then $400 to have a tuner up your idle rpm,as you'll still have to buy either a Diablo tuner,or HP's platform,then pay a tuner to give you a custom tune.
You can buy a cheap mechanical tester,and see what it's actual idle pressure is.

Amazon.com: BTSHUB Engine Oil Pressure Tester Gauge and Transmission Fluid Diagnostic Test Tool Kit, 500 PSI / 35 Bar Gauge with Adapters Case : Automotive

Buy BTSHUB Engine Oil Pressure Tester Gauge and Transmission Fluid Diagnostic Test Tool Kit, 500 PSI / 35 Bar Gauge with Adapters Case: Fuel Pressure Testers - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Damn really? I was hoping they could just hook up to it and change the variable. But I guess if that happened once I switched tune with the superchip it would just write over it anyways... damn...

Just got done spending all this money on the damn cam swap

 

[Brandon-w]

Nope they're dead accurate with-in a + / - factor of 50%

Does that mean when I overheated mine and the gauges went blank I was still good? it's ticking a bit now since then.

 

[04fxdwgi]

It's going to cost you more then $400 to have a tuner up your idle rpm,as you'll still have to buy either a Diablo tuner,or HP's platform,then pay a tuner to give you a custom tune.
You can buy a cheap mechanical tester,and see what it's actual idle pressure is.

Amazon.com: BTSHUB Engine Oil Pressure Tester Gauge and Transmission Fluid Diagnostic Test Tool Kit, 500 PSI / 35 Bar Gauge with Adapters Case : Automotive

Buy BTSHUB Engine Oil Pressure Tester Gauge and Transmission Fluid Diagnostic Test Tool Kit, 500 PSI / 35 Bar Gauge with Adapters Case: Fuel Pressure Testers - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Think I would opt for a gauge with a lower max threshold. Testing for 20-50 PSI on a 500 psi gauge would seem less than optimal. Slap a 100 PSI gauge on it instead.

Your target pressure (say 35-50) should be around center sweep of gauge as the very lower threshold is not be very accurate.

 

[Wild one]

Think I would opt for a gauge with a lower max threshold. Testing for 20-50 PSI on a 500 psi gauge would seem less than optimal. Slap a 100 PSI gauge on it instead.

Your target pressure (say 35-50) should be around center sweep of gauge as the very lower threshold is not very accurate.

Good catch 04.
i just picked the cheapest master guage kit i seen on amazon so as not to scare him away from checking the oil pressure,but a gauge with a sweep of 0 to 100 would be alot better

 

[Wild one]

Amazon.com

 

[Sherman Bird]

Wait you mean to say dodges gauges are inaccurate?

Does the engine run quietly? I mean, IF you REALLY have too low an oil pressure, you will hear noises emanating from within the depths of said engine. 24 PSI at slow idle is more than adequate.

 

[Sillygoose]

your idle rpm sounds on the low low side if it's at 500. my idle pressure is in the 40's with the hellcat pump and superchimps tune. i'd try it to see if that flash ups your idle a little bit - i don't remember if it does.

 

[Wild one]

Does the engine run quietly? I mean, IF you REALLY have too low an oil pressure, you will hear noises emanating from within the depths of said engine. 24 PSI at slow idle is more than adequate.

Did you actually read the OP's post,he has the HV Melling pump,and 24 psi at idle is not normal with that pump,and even with the stock pump 24 psi isn't really normal,most trucks idle above 30 psi with the stock pump

 

[Brandon-w]

Does the engine run quietly? I mean, IF you REALLY have too low an oil pressure, you will hear noises emanating from within the depths of said engine. 24 PSI at slow idle is more than adequate.

Depends if you're listening to the exhaust or lifter tick. Can you hear anything else over a hemi?

 

[domsaleo]

Does the engine run quietly? I mean, IF you REALLY have too low an oil pressure, you will hear noises emanating from within the depths of said engine. 24 PSI at slow idle is more than adequate.

Engine runs fairly quiet. No lifter tick or anything. Now my exhaust manifold might have a leak already. Used the provided gasket and torqued to spec in the spiral pattern.

your idle rpm sounds on the low low side if it's at 500. my idle pressure is in the 40's with the hellcat pump and superchimps tune. i'd try it to see if that flash ups your idle a little bit - i don't remember if it does.

Have the 87 tune in it right now and yea once everything is up to temp it's down to the low 20's which is why I'm so worried..


Also a side note, appears I have a leak near the crank position sensor.. I thought it was my oil pan but I think it is the sensor now...

 

[Fast69Mopar]

Engine runs fairly quiet. No lifter tick or anything. Now my exhaust manifold might have a leak already. Used the provided gasket and torqued to spec in the spiral pattern.

Have the 87 tune in it right now and yea once everything is up to temp it's down to the low 20's which is why I'm so worried..


Also a side note, appears I have a leak near the crank position sensor.. I thought it was my oil pan but I think it is the sensor now...View attachment 562895

Have you put a mechanical gauge on this motor to verify the oil pressure?

Do you have the original, stock oil pressure sending unit installed in this motor?

With the Melling High Volume oil pumps I normally see 32-34psi as my hot idle pressure and I am always using a mechanical gauge on my customers builds.

On the last 5.7 I finished a few days ago with Hellcat pump my hot idle was 39psi on the mechanical gauge and the instrument cluster showed 46psi on the stock oil pressure sending unit. I tested it against an O'Reilly special and it showed 45psi in the instrument cluster.