185 engine oil pressure

cjrpr

Member
we overhauled the engine in our 185 diesel and it does not seem to hold very good oil pressure. it had about 15psi at idle and about 28 psi wide open with the oil hot. the engine oil light did not work so we replaced it and works now. the light will come on after the oil is hot at idle. Is there a way to adjust the pressure? we put the same oil pump back in it. I have no idea what it had for oil pressure before we took it apart. thanks for any help. also we have 15 40 diesel engine oil in it.
 
I would expect oil pressure to be in excess of 35 psi at full throttle when hot. Spec is 35-55 psi. Behind the injection pump lines is a vertical hex plug. Tighten it down three full turns and see what happens. Takes a 3/4" wrench. Count your turns. If there is no change in pressure at full speed, you have a problem. Idle pressure sounds a little low, but your idle should be up around 750 to 800 RPM anyway, and maybe that is what the issue is there.
 
it idles around 800-850.oil light only comes on at idle. will adjusting the hex plug raise the oil pressure at idle as well?
 
Nope. The pressure regulator should be adjusted so with cold oil at full throttle your oil pressure is 50 to 55 psi. Whatever it is when hot or at an idle isn't controlled by the regulator because it is closed at that time. Which oil pump do you have?? the front crankshaft driven pump?? or the center mounted camshaft driven style??
 
If tightening the pressure regulator doesn't improve your oil pressure, I'd be dropping the oil pan back down and separating the oil pump housing to replace the thin paper gasket inbetween.....it must be blown out. Either that or you have installed standard main or rod bearings when the crankshaft is reground -.010" ??..having good oil pressure is never a problem on these engines.
 
I haven't had a chance to try adjusting the regulating valve yet. all old bearings were stamped STD. so we put new standard bearings back in. if adjusting doesn't work I will drop the pan and check oil pump. he ran the tractor for 6 hours before telling me about this issue.
 

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