All Small Six Oil pressure/ignorance is bliss

[Frank]

Any recommendations on oil pumps? I will put a new pump in it and see if it gets better pressure

Have you seen any foaming or air bubbles in the oil right after shut down? If the pickup portion is leaking air, should be able to tell.

 

[Gene Fiore]

I'll reiterate what others have said...run 20W50 oil. I recommend Valvoline VR1.

 

[gb500]

Any recommendations on oil pumps? I will put a new pump in it and see if it gets better pressure

Take 10 mins to drain the oil and put 20w50.
Easier than pulling engine apart to do an oil pump..that you dont know is even the problem...

 

[Frank]

Any recommendations on oil pumps? I will put a new pump in it and see if it gets better pressure

In my experience, oil pumps themselves rarely fail. The gears are big and in oil all the time. And turning 1/2 the rpm. Oil pump replacement rarely occurs at overhaul on industrial engines that have thousands upon thousands of hours and many overhauls. I've replaced one OP in all my overhauls, gas and diesel.

Did you run this pump before overhaul? If OP was good with that pump before, the pump is 99.9% probably not the problem now.

Components associated with the pump may cause an issue: sticking relief valve and clogged damaged or leaking pickup tube.

Did you check for air bubbles in the oil?, that would indicate a leaking pickup tube.