Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler JK engine mounts

Low Oil Pressure At Hot Idle

noah6013

New Member
Joined
Jun 2, 2025
Messages
1
Location
Sawmills, NC
Hello all, I just bought a 2007 JK with a motor that had spun a bearing. Anyways, I decided to rebuild the motor, and I am having a problem with the oil pressure at hot idle. It will run like a top for a good ten or fifteen minutes, and then the oil pressure light comes on, even after the light comes on, there is no engine noise. I used a manual gauge and verified that the oil pressure drops from 10 psi at cold idle to 2- 3 psi at hot idle. I had a machine shop install the cam bearings, but everything else was installed "semi-professionally" by me. Has anyone had this issue, or have any insight into it? Should I be looking at reman motors, or take it to another machine shop and let them look at it? Thanks
 
I'm no 3.8L expert but those pressure observations seem really low to me. What is your initial cold startup pressure? Should be 40psi or higher.
 
Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler JK engine mounts