Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Oil Pressure

[DBeeman]

Just wondering, how much oil pressure is too much? It is getting chilly here now, was -5 last night, and when I got in and started it, the oil pressure needle went from zero, slowly to the white line past the 40psi marking, after it warms up , it drops down to 40psi. I am buying the stuff to put an oil pan heater on it, and a transmission heater, but won't get them on until next weekend. I do plug in the block heater, and it definitely helps the truck warm up quicker. I don't let mine idle to warm up, as I do not have a high idle unit, I let the pressures come up with me keeping the RPMs at 1000, then I drive it slowly, keeping it in 1st to keep the RPMs up and shifting as I can speed up.

 

[andrewkoperdak]

I am sure someone will have another opinion about this but... My cold idle oil pressure is around 75 psi indicated. My oil pressure drops to about 50 psi after driving at highway speed for about 30 minutes. As long as my pressure stays within the safe band on the guage I am not going to worry about it. I suggest the same to you.

Why are you ordering a pan heater? Your truck should have a heater already installed by the factory. I thought all the CTD had this. I don't know if it is a pan or water jacket type but there should be one there. The plug for it is under the hood by the right headlamp.

R,

Andy

 

[DBeeman]

The plug by your right headlight is the Block Heater plug, and it does a good job, but at the extreme cold temps we get here in the frozen north, it needs a little help.



Dave Beeman

 

[andrewkoperdak]

DB,

Sorry I though you were in Maryland. I can understand now why your stock heater may not be enough. My bad.

R,

Andy

 

[DBeeman]

No sweat, it's all a learning curve. Could you ship some warm sunshine our way?



Dave Beeman

 

[EricBu12]

dbeeman,

I was told one time that a person in like 0 deg weather went out and used a infrared thermometer on his block after being plugged in for a while. Top hose was like 85 deg, block was like 70 and the oil pan was 50 deg. This is with the stock block heater and I know it gets colder than that there but for a reference, it is not bad... .

Also, I do a trick, I plug the truck in, start up and run with the plug in, what that does is circulate the coolant past the heater and it makes for a faster warmup. in 30 deg weather here in Salt Lake, I can get warm air out the vents in 2 min flat before I drive away. Saves the grid heaters since I have the grid heater saver from Practical solutions.

Anyway, Just some more tips

Eric