Elevorett

Hey all,

Motor is a built z6, running a peakboost turbo kit, K&N oil filter, GE oil filter sandwich, mechanical oil pressure gauge, running straight 40 weight oil.

At start up, oil pressure hits 80. Driving around town oil pressure is roughly 50-60.
Idle oil pressure is at 40.

Are these numbers too low for standard oil pressure? On the dyno VTEC would engage intermitently. Apparently due to low oil pressure.

If these numbers are too low I think it's the oil pump.

Matt93eg

I don't know what range is good to be in. I installed an electrical autometer oil psi gauge in my EJ1 back when I had my D16Z6 in it. I don't exactly remember what it put out cause its been a good while since I pulled it out. My LS churns on average 75-80psi on a cold startup. After 10-20 mins of driving when the oil has thinned out it averages 25-30psi at idle and averages 75-80psi doing 60mph in 5th gear turning roughly 3,000RPMs.

90Rexx

your pressure is fine....

80 psi is normal when cold, 40-60 is normal when warm and under load.


honda spec is 10 psi per 1,000 rpms. ( does not apply to higher rpm range)

Elevorett

wow quite fast responses. But that leaves me with one question.
Doesn't VTEC only engage when the oil pressure is above a certain Psi?
I have checked the Solenoid filter and it's clear, i have checked the solenoid and it works. Why would it only engage intermitently?

90Rexx

intermittent short? blocked oil passange? tons of reasons, maybe your oil pressure guage is getting sufficient pressure, but your vtec solenoid ( on the other end of the engine) isnt getting enough pressure due to a blocked passage.... is it throwing a code?

90Rexx

you should change your thread name to " intermittent vtec not working" or something of that nature, since thats what your troubleshooting

Elevorett

intermittent being sometimes it worked on the dyno, sometimes it didn't. Could be a blocked passage but I doubt it. All I really wanted to know was the oil pressure question. i'll figure out the rest. Thanks for all the help.

CRX T-Si

The heck you doing with straight 40 weight oil??

I seen too many incidents where people use thick oil on a Honda or any car for that matter and wonders why they have bearing failure.

Well it's cause the oil is so think that you produce high oil pressure but it is not able to go to the smaller openings and since oil will travel to the least point of resistence it will go where it's sprays freely and not to the vitals.

change your oil to 10w30 but before you do that you need to check what was the clearance that your bearings have when you put it together.

Thick oil does not mean it's good and don't ever use Lucas products in Hondas they are garbage.

Elevorett

why do you figure I need to check the bearing clearances? I am sure they are to spec as the motor was built less than 3000 km's ago.

CRX T-Si

The kind of oil you need is determined by the bearing clearance. This is why I said to check it. If you built it then you should know, if you didn't built it then ask your engine builder/assembler.

If you put it to stock clearance and you are using on N/A you might use a thinner oil because your bearings will be tighter like 5w30

If you boost then your clarences will be a bit looser and might use a bit thicker oil like 10w30.

You can go thinner but the turbo's don't like thick oil because the oil passages are so small, it's like trying to eat Jello thru a straw. Then you have to worry about the other small oil passages in your engine and well you get the idea.

Hope that helps and changing the oil will be an cheaper alternative then replacing anything else.

turbohatchBnuts

i had this same problem today on my turbo d16z6 with sandwich plate and mechinal oil pressure gauge 80 psi