caperbility

Got a 1995 sti v2 when hot the oil pressure is between 1-1.5 bar. Ive been told this is quite low, its ok whilst driving though up to 6 bar ish. Sensor is in a sandwich plate. I was told to try an oil change as the first step of a remedy so what oil would you guys reccomend i use and do you think it will cure the problem? Also is low pressure on tickover going to damage my engine?
many thanks guys in advance.

N*UFO

Oil change(don't ask which sort on here,just make sure it's a 5w/40) , If it don't fix it, it won't do any harm!

caperbility

Cheers m8 so what oil do you recommend?

james-wrx

I dont know about imprezas and i havent got a oil pressure gauge but my porsche used to have 1 bar on idle when hot and 5 bar when flat out i think as long as it goes up quickly when you blip the throttle and holds good pressure at high rpm it shopuld be o.k
What can affect it is the grade of oil as well so try changing the oil and filter and use maybe 15-50 mobil 1 motorsport i use 10-60 millers full synth but couldnt tell you what the fuel pressure is!

silent running

Standard oil pressure as recommended in the Subaru workshop manual is 1 bar when up to temperature. As james-wrx said above, it's a question of whether the pressure rises properly when you've got some revs on that's important. 6 bar in driving is very good. Don't sweat it. Who told you it was quite low?

Mine runs 1-1.5 bar hot idle, 4-5 bar hot driving, that's around 90 degrees oil temp.

caperbility

The guys at prosport told me just wondered if it would do any damage being that low at idle really.

magicseven

10w 40

magicseven

10w40

turbogav

I was just about to post an identical thread to this. My recently installed defi gauge reads about 1.4bar on idle and hits between 6-7bar. I too was told this was low and it should be hitting nearer to 9bar. Seems like its okay?

caperbility

Yeah it does mate, just wanted to make sure i wasnt doing any damage on tickover really with the low pressure thats all

Normski

My oil pressure at hot idle is between 1.8 and 2 Bar (measured at the low pressure sensor). But this is with 15W-50 Motul.
I wouldn't worry about yours if it has a 5W-40, 10W-40, etc, (i.e. a 40 weight when hot).

silent running

LOL I'd love to meet whoever this is who seems to have 'told' just about the whole world that their oil pressure is too low. I wonder if they are just trying to feel better about the fact that theirs is far too HIGH? 9 BAR??? Are they using cement instead of engine oil? A lot of automotive oil pressure gauges don't even read that high! I'm fed up with this scaremongering nonsense. I'm going right to the manual now to quote directly. Let's hope this puts this to bed once and for all - 1 bar at idle, 3 bar at 5000 rpm, both minimums at 80C oil temp, measured at the pressure switch location.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

6. Engine Oil Pressure
A: INSPECTION
1) Disconnect the ground cable from battery.
2) Remove the generator from bracket. <Ref. to
SC-14, REMOVAL, Generator.>
3) Disconnect the connector from oil pressure
switch.
4) Remove the oil pressure switch from engine cylinder
block. <Ref. to LU-21, REMOVAL, Oil Pressure
Switch.>
5) Connect the oil pressure gauge hose to cylinder
block.
6) Connect the battery ground cable to battery.
7) Start the engine, and then measure the oil pressure.
Oil pressure:
98 kPa (1.0 kg/cm2, 14 psi) or more at 800 rpm
294 kPa (3.0 kg/cm2, 43 psi) or more at 5,000
rpm
CAUTION:
• If the oil pressure is out of specification,
check the oil pump, oil filter and lubrication
line. <Ref. to LU-25, INSPECTION, Engine Lubrication
System Trouble in General.>
• If the oil pressure warning light is turned ON
and oil pressure is in specification, replace the
oil pressure switch. <Ref. to LU-25, INSPECTION,
Engine Lubrication System Trouble in
General.>
NOTE:
The specified data is based on an engine oil temperature
of 80°C (176°F).
8) After measuring the oil pressure, install the oil
pressure switch. <Ref. to LU-21, INSTALLATION,
Oil Pressure Switch.>
Tightening torque:
25 N·m (2.5 kgf-m, 18.1 ft-lb)
9) Install the generator and V-belt in the reverse order
of removal, and then adjust the V-belt deflection.
<Ref. to ME-44, INSTALLATION, V-belt.>

vindaloo

As long as it continues to hit the 6's when driving I wouldn't worry about it.
You only need to start worrying if it suddenly drops off for no apparent reason. Reading between the lines, do you have a an oil cooler? That'll lower the pressure a bit too.

For reference. Mine idled around 2 kgcm2 - (about1.8bar) on Millers CFS 10w40.
It's now more like 2.2kgcm2 (around 2 bar) on Motul 300V 15W50.

J.

caperbility

No I dont have an oil cooler, Thanks for all your input guys especially mr silent running- very helpfull As i say i was told by the guy at prosport that mine was low on idle when warm thats why i was a bit concerned, not really worried now after your comments many thanks once again.

silent running

As someone else mentioned, you're really looking for your pressure to hold steady and only to really drop at idle or below say 2000 revs.

caperbility

so what oil would you reccomend then m8?