i installed a new oil pressure gauge and i got a consistent reading of about 40 lbs. at idle? is this close to what it should be?

 

thats good pressure. Of course it will go down when it warms up. Also, it's not measured in lbs. It's measured in PSI, or pressure per square inch i think.

 

10psi or more for every 1000rpms is safe...as long as its not 80psi or higher.

 

PSI = Pounds (lbs) per square inch.

 

That sounds a little high at idle, but nothing to worry about. What is the PSI at 2K RPM?

 

not to take this far off topic, but how is that measured? i know it's in PSI, but how do you get a pressure reading from the motor?

 

That's the gauge's job.

 

As the oil is being pumped through the engine, it exerts a force. The sending unit translates that force (which is measured in pounds) and relates that to the area of the sending unit (in square inches). That is how pressure is calculated, pounds of force over surface area.

 

really???

thanks 428.