Tom,
One reason
it takes time to build up your oil pressure, is your oil is too thick. A
straight 30 weight oil will be too thick to flow rapidly through the oil filter
to the bearings when starting a cold engine. Try using a 10W-30 weight oil, or
maybe a 10W-40 if your engine is high mileage and you drive mostly in warm
weather. Do not use Penzoil.
All oils
get thinner (lower viscosity) when hot. Multiweight oils are much better
because they do not thin as fast as a straight weight oil. With a 10W-30 oil,
it has the viscosity of a 10 weight when cold for quick oil flow at start up, and
of a 30 weight when hot for good shear strength for bearing protection.
Ron is
correct, your oil is probably draining back into your oil pan. This is common
on older engines when the clearances inside the oil pump grow, allowing the oil
to leak back into the pan. When the engine is started, the oil filter needs to
fill up again before oil will be sent to the bearings.
One fix
for this oil leak down problem is a modern spin-on oil filter. These have
anti-drain back valves in them. This is just a flap of rubber that prevents oil
from draining out of the filter back to the pan. With a full filter, oil
pressure will come up much faster during start up, which is MUCH better for the
bearings. Hot Heads (P/N
21002) sells these adapters:
http://www.hothemiheads.com/dodge/oiling_system/oil_filter_adapter_30d.html
Dave
Homstad
56 Dodge
D500
-----Original
Message-----
From: Forward Look Mopar
Discussion List [mailto:L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Ron Allyn Swartley
Sent: Wednesday, October 04, 2006
11:57 PM
To: L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [FWDLK] L-FORWARDLOOK
Digest - 3 Oct 2006 to 4 Oct 2006 (#2006-17)
Oil Pressure on 1955 Poly engine Plymouth
Tom,
When the cars sits
overnight the oil drains into the pan. When you start it up and the idle goes
high,----- that is the mains rattling because the oil has not gotten to them
yet. It is better when you change oil because the new oil travels faster
then the old dirty oil.
I recommend
that you maybe clean the screen on the pickup in the oil pan just incase
it is a little clogged and maybe add a can of STP or my favorite Dura
Lube. The Dura Lube will free your engine up and the idle will go up about 100
to 250 RPM just minutes after you pour it in your car. When you shut the car
off it will stay on the metal parts.
Ron Swartley
-----Original
Message-----
From: Forward Look Mopar
Discussion List [mailto:L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of tom taylor
Sent: Wednesday, October 04, 2006
12:31 PM
To: L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [FWDLK] Oil Pressure on
1955 Poly
When I first start my
1955 Dodge with the 270 Poly V8, the oil pressure takes 5 or so seconds to get
the guage moving and up to operating pressure. It runs around 45 pounds
at idle once it builds up or at least that is what the guage shows. If I
pump it and let it crank and idle and build up, no problems. If it goes
up past idle at start, I hear what might be mains rattling. It seems to
improve when I changed the oil. I run 30W in it.
Any ideas what the cause
is?
Tom Taylor