Hey, I have a LSVTEC motor and lately I've noticed that my oil pressure has been lower than usual. I get 50 psi at cold start idle, and about 25 psi warm idle. Also, only 50-60 psi over 3k rpm when before I've usually had about close to 75 psi when barely approaching 3k rpm. Now, the maximum oil pressure I would get is only 60 psi if I'm lucky but most of the time it stays around 50-55 psi.

On one rare occation when I was speeding up onto the freeway, I noticed my oil pressure picking up close to 60 psi then it suddenly jumps back down to 50 psi and stays around there.

I have an Autometer electric oil pressure gauge hooked up / T-d off of the stock oil pressure sending unit.

My VTEC feels like it engages kinda late at probably around 6500 - 7k rpm, when seems reasonable since I barely only get 60 psi oil pressure sometimes.

I haven't done any major modification to the motor besides a head gasket change which I did use Copper Gasket Spray on an OEM head gasket.

The oil strainer / pick-up has never been changed before and has about 140k miles on it.

My oil pan doesn't have any major dents on it as well.

Could it be that the Copper material sprayed onto the head gasket has mixed into the oil and partially clogged the oil strainer / pick-up?

Also, I know that the helms manual states that I need a minimum of 50 psi cold idle, 10 psi warm, and 50 psi over 3k rpm which my motor meets. I was just wondering is it safe to still daily drive my motor around.

I am open to all thoughts and opinions, any suggestions will be appreciated. I just want to be sure before I go ahead and change the oil pump and oil pick-up.

Thanks in advance.

 

Check your grounds for the gauge,electric gauges tend to act funny when not grounded properly.. Just a start..