AMC oil pressure....What gives?

[clavin001]

Can anyone explain to me why every amc motor I see/hear about has oiling problems, (40 psi when first started and continues to drop during warmup)? It seems as if everyone with an AMC has the same problem. I'm planning to rebuild the 360 I have this summer and don't want to worry about oil pressure. Has an aftermarket company addressed this problem? I'm assuming that the oil pump gears/case wear quickly dropping oil pressure which in turn wears the main/cam bearings compounding the problem. If so, does someone else manufacture a pump/case that lasts???

[reddog]

There are oil pump housings that are sleeved (stainless I think). My 360 has about 50K on the rebuild and has very good pressure. I suspect the gears don't wear anything like the housing. Pump clearances are critical and keeping the oil clean has got to help lessen scouring.

Kerry

[talntar]

i have less then a hundred miles till i hit 2 hundred thousand on mine and get 60 psi on startup,25 psi when warm.at 60mph warm i get 50 psi.

[ChargerMD]

I just rebuilt my 360- new everything, including timing chain cover and gears. All I get is 45# @2500 rpm (warm) and 25# @idle. I think low oil pressure is a AMC thing. The oiling system on these engines is the worst design (IMHO) that I've ever seen. No such thing as simply changing out an oil pump. Oh well, I felt better about my FSJ when I changed out my heater core in 30 mins this last weekend.

[Kukur]

I just put in a rebuilt 360 in mine.

45 at start up

30ish driving

The rebuilder told me that I shouldn't worry if I only saw 8-15lb on the gauge because AMCs were notorious for low pressure.

[clavin001]

Well, I'm really kicking myself in the butt now! I replaced the timing chain last month and didn't rebuild the oil pump. I hate crawling around on the ground! Does that Duralube stuff actually work? If it does, I'll use it and forget about the oil pressure.

[ChargerMD]

Sure Duralabe works - thats what Elvis told me before the aliens took him away.... ;) No really, I don't think any additive will increase oil pressure (unless it has thicker viscosity- and thats only temporarily).

[clavin001]

I know Duralube won't increase the pressure, but I was wondering if they live up to their claims of being able to run on zero oil pressure without damaging the motor. Also, what are the drawbacks to using 20w-50 oil? Northern winters probably won't be very kind.

[mdill]

Personaly, I would rather run 20-50 if that was what was need to hold pressure,
vs. running without presure, there is a reason why many AMC's have spun
rod/crank bearings in the rear of the engine, low oil pressure !

Mike D.