Idle oil pressure issue after switching from AWR pan to oem replacement pan

[Circuit]

So I replaced my fubard AWR oil pan yesterday with a Specter OEM replacement and all seemed fine. Upon exiting the freeway to work today, my idle oil pressure dropped to like 2-7 psi. With the AWR it would hover at like 6-12 in the same situation. Any suggestions on why this is happening? Would switching to a thicker oil help? I don't have time or money to do the Doc B oil pump service in the near future. (suggestions on what oil? Currently using Castrol GTX 10w30)

 

[Installshield 2]

I saw your pics of the other pan, man...sorry, that looked pretty rough...

to start...was the oil pick up damaged in anyway? Even if it wasn't visible, you made sure it was tight against the crank support plate? There is a gasket on that thing that may have failed if it was tweaked from the 'accident', even to a small degree...might be worth checking...

also...how are you reading oil pressure? I'm assuming you're sending unit/sensor is T'd off if you were reading ~12 psi before...I'm using a sandwich plate and get hot idle pressure of about 20 psi...it doesn't drop to anywhere near 12 until just before a stall...and if it was also fluctuating by as much as 6psi...this issue could be more related to your gauge than anything...

EDIT: sorry, didn't see you listed the oil...10w30 is what i'm running also...If you're positive this happened with damage to the AWR pan, its pretty likely that oil pick up got its bell rung...but i'm not sure why your pressure would fluctuate by that much before the pan bit it, also...lastly, doesn't the AWR pan include an extended pick up tube? If so, did you change the pick up back to the factory unit? I might be wrong on that, can't remember...

 

[Circuit]

No damage to the pickup tube from what I could see.

The AWR pan came with a 1/4" spacer for the OEM tube that I removed when I installed the new pan and made sure the bolts were tight.

Oil pressure is T'ed off the OEM oil pressure sensor location on the back of the motor. Using an AEM Oil Pressure gauge.

I filled up with 3.7 quarts just after installing the pan, but haven't checked oil level since then. Will check that on lunch.

 

[Installshield 2]

ok, then that is definitely bizarre bud...

did you use any gasket maker or a new gasket around the pick up tube when you removed the spacer? I'm not trying harp on that, but a ~6psi drop in pressure seems like there is a lack of vacuum from the oil pick up...unless there is damage else where...I wish i could be more help, but i haven't come across this before...

in either case...the low reading is most likely related to it being T'd off...as in, 2-7psi would most likely cause the dummy oil light in the dash to blink if it really was that low...but fluctuations like that are new to me...that could be something just designed into your gauges resolution, though...which is different than mine...or could be something oil vacuum related...

how many miles are on your engine?

 

[Circuit]

Thanks for all the help so far.

I unfortunately just reused the old gasket LOL.

Hmmm this has me thinking of doing an oil filter relocation to get a better sensor location.

Edit: I have about 50k on this motor.

 

[Installshield 2]

oh ok with 50k its safe to say you don't really have anything wrong...

as far as sensor stuff...i bought one of those sandwich adapter plates for the oil filter for like $30...took 5 minutes to install, and the sensor threads right into that...since its not t'd off, you get an accurate pressure reading as soon as the pump is turning...rather than having pressure 'bleed by' it, if that makes sense...they also have multiple npt fittings for other stuff like a temp sensor...

 

[Circuit]

oh ok with 50k its safe to say you don't really have anything wrong...

as far as sensor stuff...i bought one of those sandwich adapter plates for the oil filter for like $30...took 5 minutes to install, and the sensor threads right into that...since its not t'd off, you get an accurate pressure reading as soon as the pump is turning...rather than having pressure 'bleed by' it, if that makes sense...they also have multiple npt fittings for other stuff like a temp sensor...

Makes sense. I'll look into picking one of those up! Thanks!

 

[Installshield 2]

np man

 

[Circuit]

Update:

I recently switched my oil pressure sensor location from a T on the factory sensor to an oil filter sandwich plate. I also replaced the gasket on the oil pickup tube and switched to an OEM oil pan for peace of mind. Pressure is a bit better after the 40 mile drive to work, but still hovers at 4-10 psi at idle. Once I am off idle, pressure jumps to 20-50psi depending on RPM.

Would just doing the DocB oil pump coating be enough to raise pressure a bit at idle? I don't think I want to do the PRV/filter relocation.