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Duramonster's avatar
Duramonster
Explorer
Dec 04, 2015

8.3 Cummins low oil pressure at hot idle

My 8.3 Cummins has low oil pressure at hot idle . I installed a mechanical gauge on the engine to make sure that it wasn't the dash gauge. It idles at around 8 to 10 Lbs. when hot . As soon as you bring up the idle to around 900 RPM ,it goes up to around 20 Lbs. and increases with RPM. At cold start , the pressure is right up where it should , but as the temp goes up, the pressure goes down. Engine sounds good and has been like that since I purchased it.
  • Tom/Barb wrote:
    Duramonster wrote:
    My 8.3 Cummins has low oil pressure at hot idle . I installed a mechanical gauge on the engine to make sure that it wasn't the dash gauge. It idles at around 8 to 10 Lbs. when hot . As soon as you bring up the idle to around 900 RPM ,it goes up to around 20 Lbs. and increases with RPM. At cold start , the pressure is right up where it should , but as the temp goes up, the pressure goes down. Engine sounds good and has been like that since I purchased it.


    Google search "Cummins 8.3 oil pressure problems" tons of hits, of those who worry about the same thing

    there maybe a oil pressure regulator problem. A slide kit may improve the problem. We will put one in our 8.3 next month for the same problem. ours on a cold start will peg the gauge. then when hot at idle shows 20. when at 60mph at 2000 RPM shows 60.
    yeah ,mine does that also. As soon as you raise the idle the slightest, the pressure goes way up
  • 11178adm wrote:
    this seems to be a problem with some coaches mine was a gauge and low oil pres warning sender issue (94 am eagle) gauge showed 0 psi and warning light would flicker checked with a accurate gauge in the oil galley light would flicker at 15 psi cummins min spec is 10 psi I raised the idle to 750 rpm and solved the problem that being said before I did that I changed the oil pres regulator and spring and the oil thermostat both are located in the oil cooler housing I have put about 5000 miles in the two years I have owned it
    also make sure you are using 15/40 diesel oil
    . Did the pressure go up once you changed the reg. and spring?
  • Duramonster wrote:
    My 8.3 Cummins has low oil pressure at hot idle . I installed a mechanical gauge on the engine to make sure that it wasn't the dash gauge. It idles at around 8 to 10 Lbs. when hot . As soon as you bring up the idle to around 900 RPM ,it goes up to around 20 Lbs. and increases with RPM. At cold start , the pressure is right up where it should , but as the temp goes up, the pressure goes down. Engine sounds good and has been like that since I purchased it.


    Google search "Cummins 8.3 oil pressure problems" tons of hits, of those who worry about the same thing

    there maybe a oil pressure regulator problem. A slide kit may improve the problem. We will put one in our 8.3 next month for the same problem. ours on a cold start will peg the gauge. then when hot at idle shows 20. when at 60mph at 2000 RPM shows 60.
  • dons2346 wrote:
    I have the 8.3. I ask a Cummins tech about oil pressure and he told me that the motors are a low pressure motor. At idle, he said 10psi was normal
    that's good to know. I heard that from someone else. But I will check the oil pressure reg. For my own piece of mind
  • I have the 8.3. I ask a Cummins tech about oil pressure and he told me that the motors are a low pressure motor. At idle, he said 10psi was normal
  • this seems to be a problem with some coaches mine was a gauge and low oil pres warning sender issue (94 am eagle) gauge showed 0 psi and warning light would flicker checked with a accurate gauge in the oil galley light would flicker at 15 psi cummins min spec is 10 psi I raised the idle to 750 rpm and solved the problem that being said before I did that I changed the oil pres regulator and spring and the oil thermostat both are located in the oil cooler housing I have put about 5000 miles in the two years I have owned it
    also make sure you are using 15/40 diesel oil
  • What model year?

    Side or rear radiator?

    How long have you had it?

    How many miles on it?

    What oil are you using?

    Anything else that might help - including year, brand of RV, ect?

    You really did not give very much information, so I can't help.

    Fred.