Oil Pressure Kits and Info

[lash]

In order to not jack Bob's rebuild thread any more than I already did, I'm starting a thread here to discuss this subject some more and to get some info for myself.

For me, it started when I saw Thomas state, "The one thing i can recommend to anyone that owns a L36, L67 & L32 is an oil pressure riser kit of any kind, as long as it brings the oil pressure up. That's what did Bob's motor in, in the first place."

Here's some bits in his thread:
viewtopic.php?p=92945#p92945

and:

viewtopic.php?p=92998#p92998

This then led me to ask the following questions:

1) So, for guys like me who don't thrash their 3800 all the time, just occasionally, the washer might be enough to help out oil pressure and maybe save my 3800 from oil pressure related disaster?

2) Could you tell me the thickness and other dimensions of that washer so that I can look for a source down here?

3) Also, have any of you gone to using 20W50 oil as mentioned on INTENSE? I realize that it is intended primarily for those who regularly race their 3800, but just want to know.

[willwren]

I carefully measured the INTENSE kit for spring specs and washer thickness before I installed it. It's tough to say how much of the pressure rise comes from the new spring or the washer preload. Will the washer increase your pressure? Sure. But it might not be much. I'd suggest at the very least a new OEM spring if you do that, but it might be trial and error to get the results you want. The cost of the kit itself is inexpensive enough and a sure thing, I'd suggest just buying it. There are several factors that play into this, the biggest being that we have no way of knowing how far the plunger and spring travel/compress during operation. If we knew that, we could calculate (or test with a load cell) the spring forces.

The kit raised my OP by at least 10psi across the rpm range. I run 5W30 in the winter and 10W30 in the summer on the Zilla, I have never run 20W50, and don't see the need.

[lash]

Good point!

And thanks for the answers.

[PDXGTP]

Good point Bill,
I was thinking the same thing when I replied in Bob's post.
The spring rate can be measured but not everyone has the tools to do this simple task.. at the moment I don't but could make a tool to do so.

I know the plunger has to travel about 1/3" before the oil goes into the bypass loop. but knowing that isn't really all that helpful.
You simply need a stronger spring or a few small washers.
I can take pics and post them tonight if you like.

[Oldsman105]

Where does Intense mention about running 20W50 oil?

[PDXGTP]

I wouldn't use 20/50
the first number is the oil cold xx / --
The second number is the oil weight hot. -- / xx
I can see running 5/30 or 0/30 with no problems. many of the Corvette owners use 0/30 amsoil.
I use 5/30 AMSOIL

[rrounds]

Don't run 20/50, all it will do is slow you down and cost you some gas mileage. When I was drag racing full time, I would laugh at the rookies that put straight 40w or 50w in their engine and promptly go up to the line. At the end of the run(or sooner) they would have to put the car on the trailer(spun bearing or broken distributor gear). My 2000 SSEi has 185k(we bought it new) and all I use is 5w/30 M1, even in the summer when the temp. gets up to 115*. If you want a little more oil pressure just put in a few small washers, but all you need is 10 psi per 1000 rpm so if you keep it under 6000 rpm all you need is 60 psi(50 would be ok). You can be under the 10 per 1k and not kill your engine but the 10 per 1k is safe. My wife beats the hell out of this engine(only person I know of to speed up for an red light, got to get there first). My wife likes the sound of the intake I have on the car, and her gas mileage shows it. You don't read about a lot of engines that went bad from low oil pressure(if they even know that for sure it was low oil pressure) and if your not making a lot more HP(350+) you don't have to worry about it. JMO

ROD

[rrounds]

One more thing, you can get to much oil pressure and kill your engine just as fast(even with an stock pump and to many washers). How much is to much, I don't know I have been out of racing for to long and when I was I never had to worry about that.
ROD

[lash]

Where does Intense mention about running 20W50 oil?

Right here in this link:
http://intense-racing.com/Merchant2/mer ... y_Code=PBF

Direct quote:

Motor oil is the lifeblood of your 3800 engine, and any form of auto racing significantly increases the amount of work you're asking your oil to perform. The INTENSE™ Oil Pressure Kit allows you to increase WOT oil pressure in your 3800 Series II or Series III engine from approximately 50 to 55 psi to a race-oriented (and much safer) 80 to 85 psi. These numbers are based on using 20w50 motor oil and engine operating temperature of 180Ý F.

I personally have always used the owner's manual recommended 10W30. 189,000 miles and counting.

[PDXGTP]

A friend that works at GM told me the oil seals are rated for 85 ~ 90 psi.. FWIW...
I would imagine that if... you exceeded that psi then your seals might leak at the front & rear of the crank.

[willwren]

That might explain why 8-ball had a few leaks. Might be good to have Todd's input on this. I've had no issues so far, and have been running this kit in the Zilla for almost a year.

[Rogue]

I've run the kit along with 5/30 synth mob 1 since I started modding the car almost 90k miles ago. I attribute the longevity of my motor under such stress at least partly to the extra oil pressure this kit provided. The 20w50 notice on the site was done before I joined INTENSE and I do know that we ran some pretty thick stuff in Scott's Turbo GP but I personally would only use 5 or 10 w30 in a street driven 3800.

[trf_ssei]

where is this spring and washer located.. im interested in replacing mine.. just wondering where to find it on my 98 ssei??

[willwren]

Inside the oil filter adapter bolted to the block. If you're looking at a replacement, just buy the kit from INTENSE and enjoy higher than OEM oil pressure. You'll get the plunger, spring, washer, and gasket.

The OEM application doesn't have a washer.

[trf_ssei]

thats the kit i was looking at i just did not know where to find it.. thanks

[swampthing]

ok just so i understand, for a stock 3800 that might get a few mods but not be a track car, and also one that is aging is it recommended to do this or not.

[2003 SSEi]

it would be recommended for any 3800. improved OP is a good thing in these motors

[GoldenBullet]

How long would this take to do on a guesstimate?

[swampthing]

does it really make your WOT pressure 80psi? that seems like it's too high.

[2003 SSEi]

yes the WOT presure goes up to 80psi and its perfectally fine for the engine

here are some before and after pics

Warm idle before


Warm Idle after


warm 2k rpms before


warm 2k Rpm's after