Why rebuild?

[Howard and Pat Warren <warrenwood@domain.elided>]

Stephen wrote:

<<<<<
Hello.  Looks like my "pristine, beautiful" Alfa 164 that I bought a few 
weeks ago may need an engine rebuild.  The oil pressure is about 10 when it 
is at idle warmed up.
>>>>>

For what it's worth, this looks like a normal reading.  The oil pumps are 
mechanical, and put out more pressure as RPM increases.  With all of my 
Alfas, oil pressure in PSI is roughly 1% of engine RPM when fully warmed. 
 In other words, 10 PSI for 1000 RPM, 30 PSI for 3000 RPM, etc.  Another 
variable to consider is the oil in your engine: the thicker the oil, the 
higher the pressure.

If you really want to make sure, have a compression test run.  But I 
honestly think you don't have anything to worry about, pressure-wise.

Howard K. Warren, Little Rock, AR (not a mechanic, but I paid for one's TV)
1988 Milano Platinum, "SnowHawk", 162k miles
1991 164L, "Peregrine", 60k miles
1984 GTV-6, "Falconi", 132k miles

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