Trying to track down my tick so I installed an oil pressure gauge. These are the numbers I'm getting..


Cold idle - 53 psi
Cold 2k rpm - 58 psi


Hot idle - 18 psi
Hot 2k - 51 psi

 

They actually kind of high, though not enough to worry IMO. The RAVE says minimum of 10 at idle and 50 at 2K RPM.

What oil and filter are you using?

 

Rotella 15w40 and K&N 3001

 

Hmm, interesting. The heavy oil is probly pushing the pressure up a bit, especially when cold, but it doesn't seem like it'd be that much. I wouldn't worry about the pressures. They are close enough.

Rotella T made my engine tick a lot worse, and other people have reported similar issues.

I'm not sure why so many folks are so enthusiastic about Rotella T here. I bet if you switch to T6 or M1 TDT it'll quiet down some. Also, with the combo of heavy oil and cold temps up in CO you're starving your engine for oil after start up which is bound to increase the tick as well as all forms of engine wear.

 

Thanks for the info. I should probably switch to something a bit thinner for the winter months. At least the numbers are on the high side of normal. I'd be a lot more worried if they were too low, being an 03 and all.

 

'03 time bombs , have surely imploded by now!

 

What Tstat do you have? I switched to Rotella T and a 180 genuine tstat and my tick is gone.

 

I still have the original tstat. Temps are usually 201. a 180 tstat will probably be my next upgrade.

 

Isn't M1 TDT a synthetic? I'm willing to give it a try my next oil change just to see. The only thing that has kept using the Rotella T is because I've heard how much worse the synthetic will make your motor leak oil????

What filter do you go with? I usually go napa gold but was gonna start using the wix 51515 next oil change.

 

M1 TDT is Group IV full synth. Mine has not leaked any more than usual since I changed it, and I was running T before. It costs a bit more than T6, but is slightly thicker (though still thinner than the T), which appeals to me. If I lived in a colder climate, I'd just run T6. But here our summers get so hot I like a bit thicker oil. Honestly, I'd run 10w-40 if they made a diesel version. I guess I could shop around for one with high levels of ZDDP or use an additive. But really the T6 or M1 TDT is perfectly fine, so why bother.

I use the M1 filter. I personally don't care about the whole 'bigger filter' thing. These things already have plenty of oil in them IMO.