Oil pressure

[AEHaas]

It is important to understand that oil pressure does not lubricate. It's only function is to replace oil that flows out of a bearing, and aid in cooling. In some areas of automotive engines there is no pressured oil to a bearing, instead it is lubricated by "splash" lubrication to fill the bearing surface.

Many smaller engines as lawn mowers and generators are splash lubricated on all bearing surfaces with no pressured oil flow. Flow in automotive engines is more important than pressure in my book.

aehaas

 

[CATERHAM]

Originally Posted By: AEHaas
It is important to understand that oil pressure does not lubricate. It's only function is to replace oil that flows out of a bearing, and aid in cooling. In some areas of automotive engines there is no pressured oil to a bearing, instead it is lubricated by "splash" lubrication to fill the bearing surface.

Many smaller engines as lawn mowers and generators are splash lubricated on all bearing surfaces with no pressured oil flow. Flow in automotive engines is more important than pressure in my book.
aehaas

That's very true, but one important function of an OP gauge is that it is also very effective viscometer since it measures the back-pressure in the system. Consequently the higher the OP reading the higher the viscosity of the oil. Therefore maintaining a known safe OP level is a proxy for maintaining a safe minimum operational viscosity.