Well, I have been looking for a new oil pump, It would seem to me that if you had a high pressure system, it would protect your bearings better. All the pumps I see seem to have a pressure below 80, why??

 

I do not have a clue as far as oil pressure and if higher pressure is good so I am looking for an education.

I would think if the pressure is to high it would be bad for seals. Does that make any sense?

 

You rarely make sense 01... we've learned to overlook you.

RP

 

Just looking for some friendly education...

However, I can help you with other "detailing" issues if you wish...

 

The general rule of thumb for oil pressure is that you need 10psi per 1000 rpm when the oil is at operating temperature.
Unless you intend to spin your engine past 8000rpm then an 80psi pump is sufficient.
Once the crank (or whatever) is riding on a film of oil, the extra pressure serves no further purpose.
If your engine oil pressure is low because the bearings and /or crank is worn but doesn't audibly knock, you can still save the day by just installing a hi pressure pump which is cheaper than re-grinding the crank etc.
Also, no such thing as a free lunch. A hi pressure pump needs more power to turn.

You would be better off going for a high volume pump in a fairly stock rebuild. This ensures a quicker delivery of filtered and cool oil to where it's needed most.

As for 01's question, oil pressure makes no difference to the seals.
The area thet the seals "seal" is not subject to oil pressure. It usually goes (depending on engine type) to the cam and lifters then the mains and rod bearings.
Once it escapes the bearings, the pressure is dissipated, i.e. effectively zero.

 

Also the bearing tolerance (gap) make a difference on the amount of oil pressure you what to run.
What EnglishAdam said about rpm vs oil pressure is correct on the "old" motors. But I don't think it applies to the modular motors we run today......but I could be wrong, have been twice this morning already

 

Judging by Ford4fun's sig pic, I was guessing that he is running a 302 or 351 Windsor. That IS an old design.
Mind you, you can still apply that oil pressure rule to modern motors, it doesn't hurt.
If the bearing gap is big, you need volume too. Hi Pressure is not the same as Hi Volume.
You could run an HP pump and still starve the bearings.

Sorry to go on about this, I'm feeling pedantic tonight.

 

 

Hey, three times is a charm...

Thanks EnglishAdam for the eduction. I wasn't sure about the pressure and seals and wanted to learn.

 

...well, it is auctually a 460 but anyway....I am planning a rebuild on the 351c in the mach1.