Alrighty folks!

Just looking for a bit advice really on my friends Escort.

The bottom end had been rebuilt and has done its running in miles so we changed the oil today and thought we would check the oil pressure as it always seemed low on the standard gauge.

We checked pressure before we changed oil and the most we could get was 2.8 bar no matter what revs or what temp that the max we could get.

So.....we changed the running in oil to 5w 50 fully syn and tried again.

Pressure increased a wee bit to around 3 bar but no higher.

We let the engine idle and the oil come to temp a bit and then held the revs at 3k and the pressure dropped rather than rose?

What are next logical steps for investigating this?




Our temporary test set up.
I take it this is an ok place for measuring pressure?







pressure while holding the revs @3 k.

Cheers

 

what is the pressure on initial start up euan?

 

was the oil pump drive changed?

 

cold start press is 40 psi col.

engine is a bit unknown and engine builder cant be contated until Monday as he is in europe racing so cant answer any questions on engine parts but we think that all parts in bottom were new.

 

If this isnt changed can it affect the pressure then, if so how does it.

Steve.

 

I would say it is not a good place to check pressure as its flowing rather than holding the pressure imo

That would explain the drop when revs rise,cos the pressure will drop at gauge due to the turbo flow

 

costina, that makes sense but I have my oil presse sensor at the the other end of that line on my car with no troubles.

Steve...im not sure what diff that would make? I thought pump created flow not pressure

 

I would say 40psi on that oil is okay. Mine is 40psi when cold, dropping to about 20 - 24 at idle when hot.

 

[quote="rapidcossie"]costina, that makes sense but I have my oil presse sensor at the the other end of that line on my car with no troubles.

euan does your gauge have a tube to it?? just thinking the gauge is too near the t piece

My cos has done 108 k on std bottom end 60 psi cold 30 psi hot using 15/50 mobil 50 psi while driving

 

Thanks for posting this up for me Euan. Its been anoyin me all nite now.

costina
All rite mate, why does it make a difference where the guage is? Surly pressure is constant throughout the engine?

 

your painters ant been caning the shit out of it have they m8

 

Mine is 55psi when cold on idle, dropping to about 32psi when at hot idle, driving when hot stays around 50psi. I also have a oil cooler fitted to mine and use 10/40 oil

Steve.

 

The gauge thats attached to the engine, does the oil pass through it as opposed to flowing to it as an in car gauge would, just woundering if that makes a diff to the pressure reading.

Steve.

 

Just thinking cos its a short path to the gauge its not getting enough pressure cos its just flowing past????? the oil from turbo goes to sump flow only,were as when its at the block the turbo is a restriction creating pressure if u get my drift

IMO your only getting flow not pressure

 

Whats up with ur std gauge????


Paul

 

That oil feed line going to the turbo comes from the side of the block and the low oil pressure light on your dash is on the same line( on the block that screws to the engine block)

My oil pressure gauge is an SPA one which has an electronic sensor and capilary tube etc..

 

it shows the same as our second gauge.

 

OK sounds strange imo i would put the mech gauge were the std oil sensor is for gauge and light and see the reading,unless like an spa which is good quality i would stick to a mech gauge as even the std ones are poo and rely on good wiring etc

 

Prob is on a 4wd car its vey hard to get to block that attaches to the engine block.

 

Euan, I see your local, Was the rebuild done locally, I'm only asking as my mate had a rebuild done locally which suffered low oil pressure problems. We traced it down to the pickup pipe being fitted to the oil pump without a gasket. Another sugestion would be a weak spring in the oil pump or the releaf valve sticking open.

Cheers, Paul T.

 

Was the oil pump changed?

Is it a high pressure one?

 

hey paul.

The engine wasnt built locally mate.

Who built yours?

This thread is really to see what people think and to see the best course of action to fix it.

Engine really needs to come out to investigate oil pump or can it be done from underneath on a 4wd?

 

We have not had 100 % confirmation that it has been changed but have no reason to think that it hasnt.

No idea what pump it is?

 

402HAW

Rebuild was done by Derek Palmer Engineering at the otherside of Glasgow mate

 

I build my own, and your better off taking it out sealing a sump on ur back aint no fun

IMO do all the easy checks first

 

 

What is the next step tho mate? other than changing pumps etc.

I know what your saying bout the posistioning of the guage but personally i dont think it makes any difference. Not a dig or anything.

So what else can cause it?? Cant be worn shells, anything else??

 

ok as i said us a mech gauge at the block to be sure the dash one is correct, std pump pressure is around 60psi cold high pressure 80 ish

How was the engine run in ???? miles type of oil etc

 

Been run in on mineral oil (i think). Has now done 1200 miles not going above 4k.

 

Hope its been run on mineral u need it to bed the bearings etc the miles is ok tho

Try the gauge and imo 5/50 can cause low oil pressure try a 15/50,remember ford used to use a 20/50

 

It beats pulling the lump out

 

costina

Much appreciated mate. I'l keep ya posted

 

I understand that 5/50 will be thinner on cold start than a 15/50 but the should be the same thickness at a hotter temp, so then should so same pressure.

 

I'm interested myself now hope u sort it

Paul

 

the oilman will know if its related to the oil your using... pm him see what he says..

Seems to know his shit backwards from what I've seen on here.

Dan

 

saying that, ive had noisy lifters since changing to fully synthtic oil from mineral.

 

My engine sounds perfect on start up mate. Even tho it does only read 3bar

 

bloody cars

 

I dont believe diff viscosities of oil makes THAT much of diff in pressure.

any cossie running any normal oil needs to see 60 psi min on cold start IMO.

 

Just out of curiosity, can big end shells be replaced with the engine still in the car??

By removing sump etc, disconecting rods from crank and pushing further up the bore. Is there room to do this or easier taking the block out??

Thanks all