High Oil Pressure Reading High Rp, Cold Weather

[Okimaw]

I have a 97 SLT, 5.7L vortec. It was running normal until about 4 days ago. I took it to a full service wash and now have a problem. The oil pressure at start up and idle is now about 410psi and rpm are about 800. The pressure goes down to normal levels after running for about an hr and the idle is normal not long after warm up. There are no leaks anywhere topside or under and no noises that would be cause for concern. It's extremely cold here right now, about -30 celsius overnight with windchills about -40. Could something have gotten stuck or wet that I can just thaw out in a heated parkade or do I need to have this looked at closer?

[Nytemare]

... nytemare is correct

 

.. you must be from Canada too, eh! temperature in celcius and -40

 

410 kilopascals (kPa) is 60 psi ... and that is OK at cold cold startup

 

if you are concerned about the oil pressure... using 5W30 synthetic oil will likely allow for a little freeing flowing oil in the COLD

I don't know about synthetic in a 97...it probably has too much mileage to switch now....but a good Mobil 1 semi synthetic would be fine.

 

I have however seen guys that switched over at 200k km with no issues...so maybe...I would go Mobil 1 5w30 high millage...worst can happen is you consume a little oil...than you just switch back to a semi synthetic...wont hurt anything.

[jro909]

its normal, mine rudes about 50-60 psi when its cold, i just let it idle down to 40 psi and then i'm off like a prom dress...are you running 5w-30 oil? if you have say 10w in there its going to hold the oil pressure up longer because its thicker when cold

[jf781]

When it's cold out your oil pressure is going to be high because it is more viscous (thicker) therefore it takes more pressure to push it through the motor. Maybe I'm not ready your question right but when it is really cold your engine will idle higher until it warms up. It does this from the factory to warm up quicker and after it reaches a certain temp it will start to drop till what you know as normal - should be right around 700- 750 RPM.

[REV353]

What kind of oil pressure gauge do you have, I have never heard or seen one that went over 80psi. Yes cold temps will increase your oil pressure, could nearly double. Right now it's about -5F mine normally starts up around 45psi, it will clime closer to 60psi at cold start up and then go back down.

[Nytemare]

What kind of oil pressure gauge do you have, I have never heard or seen one that went over 80psi. Yes cold temps will increase your oil pressure, could nearly double. Right now it's about -5F mine normally starts up around 45psi, it will clime closer to 60psi at cold start up and then go back down.

That's 410Kpa....410psi would be spraying out all over everything....hell thats almost 4 times the pressure of compressed air in a garage.

 

And yes....its normal in the winter to have increased oil pressure. As long as its not pegging out and doesn't come down.

[rodram]

... nytemare is correct

 

.. you must be from Canada too, eh! temperature in celcius and -40

 

410 kilopascals (kPa) is 60 psi ... and that is OK at cold cold startup

 

if you are concerned about the oil pressure... using 5W30 synthetic oil will likely allow for a little freeing flowing oil in the COLD