I have been seeing a varaity of different responses on google about the normal operating oil pressure of a 460. Most are for newer carbed and EFI engines.

I have a built 72 Lincoln 460 in a 79 F250, and I finally got my mechanical oil pressure gauge hooked up (after much trouble). Sitting at cold, choked idle of 1600 RPM, The oil pressure gauge is reading roughly 82 PSI.. Seems high for low rpms.

Is this normal, high, or low?



Thanks
Jameson

 

Engine wear,oil viscosity,engine temperature,oil pump type(standard,high volume) and gauge Brand will have an effect on pressure reading.My 460 when freshly rebuilt w/ standard pump and 10/30 oil would peg the SW gauge at ~85 psi on start up and drop to 45-55 at 950-1000 rpm @185deg.You need a min. of 10 psi per 1000 rpms to keep the bearings happy.Need more info about your combo.Oil weight?How long at 82 psi?How many miles on the engine?If it's fresh and your senario resembles mine then no worries.The engine will loosen up and pressure will drop accordingly.Mine is a carbed,10.5-1 CR,ported C9VE heads,575" lift cam,RR,LT headers 460.

 

10/30 full synthetic, fresh 20 miles ago. 2k since last rebuild. Stays at 82 until warm and chokes off, then drops to 75 at a 1000 rpm.

What else about the engine?

 

With only 2000 miles on a rebuild I wouldn't worry.That pressure sounds fine.Low pressure is cause for concern.You have a tight fresh engine.Pressure will drop as miles increase.Curious,did you run full synthetic from break-in?I run cast rings with a moly face and was not sure if I should've run synthetic or if I should've waited till after 4000-5000 miles.I waited.No problems.I've heard both positive and negative regarding synthetic oil on fresh engines/rings.

 

I was told that once you start on one or the other, you need to stick with it until the next rebuild. I have used full synth since i first filled

 

I agree, your oil pressure is fine. What I find interesting is the different opinions on oil. I certainly am NO expert. The machine shop which did my engine work suggested I go to a couple of camshaft mfgr. sites and read what they said about oil. It seems that a concern is the lack of ZDDP (zinc) in many many oils, including synthetics which according to some of these articles can lead to premature camshaft failure. I certainly don't know if that is true or not. Also, I read that one shouldn't use a synthetic during break in to allow rings to seat quickly. It is difficult to sort it all out in my opinion.