[DieselDrax]

Oil pressure will change with RPM and oil temperature. 22psi at idle is totally normal.

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[DieselDrax]

Mine rests at 22 psi as well. I can't remember what the engineer interview TFL said, but don't these engines have a variable oil pump or something? I don't think it was electrically driven like the water pump, but it can choose how much PSI it wants essentially?

From GM Authority:

• A variable-pressure oiling system with a continuously variable-displacement vane oil pump enhances efficiency by optimizing oil pressure as a function of engine speed and load. With it, the oil supply is matched to the engine requirements rather than the excessive supply of a conventional, fixed-displacement oil pump.

Variable oil pumps have been around for a while with various designs, basically it's so they can balance engine protection and efficiency. Can run lower oil pressure under low load conditions to provide better fuel economy and then increase the pressure under high load to provide additional lubrication and bearing protection.

 

[DieselDrax]

Very interesting. Thanks for the info. Just seemed odd as every other vehicle I have had the gauge tends to sit at or near the mid point. Glad to know all is good!

Most gauges like that are dummy gauges, you can tell if the gauge reaches that point and never moves. Most vehicles like that just have an oil pressure switch and you're not seeing actual oil pressure, all you're seeing is that there is "some" oil pressure and the gauge basically has 2 positions; Normal and none.

If you watch the oil pressure on the DIC you'll see it changes constantly with RPM and as the oil temp goes from cold to warm. The oil pressure in my 2.8 is around 15psi at idle, 42psi cruising on the freeway, and 60+ when the oil is cold or when the RPMs are high.

Dummy gauges tend to train people to misunderstand what really happens so when they get a vehicle that has gauges providing actual readings they think something is wrong. Dummy gauges are nothing more than fancy idiot lights, I wish manufacturers would stop using them. Should either be a gauge providing actual values or a light that comes on when there's a problem.

 

[DieselDrax]

I have a 2021 2.5L Colorado, normal for it to go up to about 87/88 before it has warmed up? After it warms up it sits at about 35-40 when idling, fluctuates with RPM but that’s normal correct?

Totally normal.