Oil psi, Loaded vs Empty

[eracers999]

What differences have you guys noticed from running empty verses pulling a good load. Whith reguards to oil pressure.

Thanks / Kent

[KallyI]

I haven't seen any difference in oil pressure, pulling or empty. Over the past 8 years that I have had my truck, I have pulled at least 4 different trailers, including a flat deck with a Ford Taurus, and all my daughters worldly belongings on it, weighing in at about 10,000 lbs. total. My 5th wheel is at about 8,500 lbs, and again the oil pressure has stayed the same as when empty. My 2

[eracers999]

I have noticed my dash guage stays the same while the mech guage shows a 4 to 5 lb drop, depending on how big a wind, speed, and grade.

Kent

[Dvldog 8793]

Howdy
With the first engine I ran 40psi at 1800rpm all the time loaded(normally about 16,000) or empty with a tail wind. That was verified with a mech gauge one time. With my new engine it seems to be about 43-45. Both of these psi readings are at full operating temp with the oil temp at about 175-190. I have never verified the psi of the new motor with a mech gauge yet. Hope this helps....
L8r
Conley Janssen

[JohnC]

If you are seeing lower oil pressure when towing it's probably because the oil is running hotter. Otherwise, the oil pump doesn't know the difference...

[john8662]

The hotter the outside temperatures, the lower the oil pressure I've seen. If I pull then I notice that the oil pressure will drop slightly while the water temperature rises above the "normal" range it sits while running empty. When the water temperature returns back down to a normal temp range, the oil pressure on the inside gauge will come back up. I think the factory oil cooler could stand to be upgraded! I'm looking into the new lines and cooler setup that DSG has.

[rjwest]

At 220-230 degrees oil temp ( pre cooler ")
was about 37 psi at factory gage, 1900-2000 rpm.
About 40 psi 170-180 degrees .
( I do have a remote dual oil filter , lost about 3 psi , from stock )

Just went to full sync oil , now 37 psi at 185 deg.
( Both conditions with 3000lb truck camper( 60mph )

[ace58]

Great timing for this thread. I have about 2500 miles on a new engine and today was the first time I ran it for an extended time, 260 miles round trip.

A 60 plus degree day proved alarming as I saw lower than usual oil pressure yet typical water temperature reading. I have -10 (5/8") external remote oil filter, oil cooler lines and am using full synthetic oil.

As soon as I arrived home, I found the oil level correct and decided to change the oil and filter, even though it was not near due. I also cut apart the filter to confirm all was well.

Does anyone change viscosity for summer versus winter driving? I never changed with the original engine, but did not have as much volume either.

[Dvldog 8793]

Howdy
What I did with my new engine....
Ran with whatever oil GM shipped it with for approx 15 minutes. Dumped oil and standard filter. Changed to Mobil Delvac regular 15-40. Changed again after 500 miles of regular driving. also installed Amsoil remote bypass dual filter kit. didn't see any drop in presure. Ran for approx 3000, changed again. changed oil/filter every 3000 till 12000 then switched to Mobil Delvac 1 synthetic. have been using that ever since with oil changes at about every 8000 miles. I change my regular filter(1.5qt) every 4000 and the bypass every 16000. I waited to switch to synthetic because I had heard rumors that an engine might not break in properly with synthetic oil. Who knows, but I thought better safe than sorry. I was going to switch to regular Delvac in the summer but I've got this schedule down pretty good so I'll probably stick to it.
Hope this helps.
L8r
Conely

[rjwest]

ace58 what is your oil pressure?

My first try was a " fits all " remote filter kit.
Fittings to small, Even though I used -10
the adapters restricted the oil flow,

Went to a Dual filter with bigger fittings, also used baynonet fittings so not to have any restriction in the AN to pipe adapter.
Also had to relieve the Filter adapter where the lines ported into the casting, Restriction in casting. Still lost some oil prtessure...

Bottom Line: Should have bought from JK or Heath.
or 1 of the other Advertisers.

They are better engineers than me.....

[ace58]

rjwest my oil pressure is just under 40 at operating temperature and 2000 rpm and just above 20, same conditions, at idle. I have been using Rotella 5-40 full synthetic. The rating is appropriate and the cold flow properties intriguing, but I think I will return to 15-50, Mobil 1.