R33 RB26dett into R32 GTR

[JimX]

How does your engine survive at startup then without any oil pressure?

The oil pump on my Torana died once, I drove about a km with the light on, then lost pressure to my valves and it stopped. After I towed it home I replaced the pump and it was as good as new (well, old)

[Sydneykid]

Hi JimX, at start up your engine is doing around 300 to 500 revolutions per minute. Count how long it takes for the oil pressure light to go out, say 2 seconds max. So 300 / 60 X 2 = 10 revolutions.

Now do the same calc at 5,000 rpm, 5000 / 60 X 2 = 167 revolutions.

There is enough oil in the bearings lifters etc and it is slippery enough to last 10 revolutions, but 167 revolutions????????????

The oil light comes on at low oil pressure, around 10 psi. So if the engine has 9 psi it will run for while with the light on. But if it has 0 psi with the light on it won't run very long at all. That's why an oil pressure guage is such a useful device to have. You can see what oil pressure the engine has and notice any sudden decreases, especially those that are not enough to make the light come on.

Hope that helps.