My mate has a freshly built ZT engine, that sees 1bar oil pressure at tickover (cold) is this normal? I thought it should be higher! Doesnt rise as much as i would have thought when revved either

The crank has had a grind, its got brand new bearings to suit, brand new oil pump, the block and head have been cleaned etc.

It has an oil cooler and remote filter head, -10 fittings and -10 oil return from turbo to sump (T34 turbo)

Any suggestions as to what we should be looking at? really want to get this car to pod on sunday as it should be a bit of an animal.


Thank you please

Steve

 

should be a lot higher than 1 bar cold.. that will drop to nothing when hot

sure the gauge is ok??

 

You're gonna run it in and map it in two days?!

No, the oil pressure isn't right, or perhaps your gauge is wrong?

 

try the gauge, mine had around 60psi i think on cold start up and went down to around 30psi (i think, cant remember now lol). when you say freshly built did he have the crank journals checked and shells to suite? as a damaged crank can cuase you low oil pressure mate, proper tolerences help good oil pressure

 

Cheers paul

Tried a defi guage on it just before we left tonight and it was reading the same, doubt it would be 2 faulty guages, as the defi came off a saff and was reading fine?
Crank tolerances I cant comment on, but its had a grind, and shells to suit, so SHOULD be ok.

And running in and mapping in two days: tall order, I dont know to be honest I was just helping out with it. Whats so " " about it anyway?

 

The "" is the concept of an freshly-built engine with no oil pressure going racing at the pod in two days time.

If the clearances weren't measured when the engine was being built then you're completely blind as to what the possible problem is.

 

Sadly mate,if you manage to map it. i think it'll be dead by the time you do pod

i'd suspect the Crank clearances TBH... mates williams clio had exactly the same
as you are describing, and when he started it up you could hear a funny slight
knock... it was the big ends got him to turn that off pretty sharpish.. and the 'Tuner' had mapped it on a RR like it

 

Well if it can be fixed then it CAN go cant it, hence the "HELP" thread.

And I have no idea what was or wasnt measured, I didnt build it, I didnt grind it, I'm just asking for help.

 

No its not knocking. It might start, but its not right now

 

where is the oil pressure reading being taken from?

 

Mine runs at around 4 bar when cold, drops to 2.5 when hot.

 

The oil pressure switch AFAIK. Back of the block

 

Lets assume the crank tolerances and pump are ok (pump should be, delivered this morning brand new), theres not much else it can be is there? Sounding like crank

 

Air leak on pickup pipe.

 

How do i check that?

Cheers for your help by the way, it is appreciated!! didnt mean to come across cuntish up there before ^^^ just a bit miffed as it looks like he's not gonna make it

 

what oil have u got in it and is it a fram filter ?

 

dont know to be honest! *THINK* its 5w-40 but NOT sure at all.

Whats a Fram filter? It has a remote filter setup with an oil cooler if that helps

 

ok iirc should be 5-30 oil 1040 causes all sort of pressure issues all if its a fram oil filter the fuck it off buy a gen ford one

 

Will check oil and filter tomorrow and let him know. Its a shame, really wanted to see the car. I have a pic, i'll try to find it...

 

so you ground the crank and he bought the shells steve? ask him what size shells he got as by the sounds of it he's prob put standatd size shells in it. or put a stephascope to the sump/bottom of block and see if you can hear it knocking? i'd near enough put money on it this is whats happened though (well if i had money) . good luck mate

 

No mate, he has had the crank ground, and the same company provided the shells. Thats why it seems weird that the pressure is so low.

Just had a thought though, AFAIK the company who did the crank didnt have the conrods, so how could they have enough information to get the shells right? Getting confused with it now, and I'm pissed off cos I've left my phone and camera down there

Will have a listen to the bottom end. Its not knocking at the moment, but its looking the most likely cause

 

My ZT would run about a bar at hot tickover. This is normal according to haynes manual for a zetec.

 

a zetec big end of a rod is a govened size if im correct? (internal size of big end on rod) its only the thickness of shell that determins the clearance to the crank if that makes sense? is you take a thou of the crank then you'd go +1 thouon the shells. if he has a reciept look what it says was supplied with the crank?

 

He has aftermarket rods, eagle or arrow, I'm not sure. I was thinking they might have been supplied at (for arguments sake) 100mm, but no-one has checked this, they could be 101mm for all we know

Will check the reciept for the crank too, cheers paul! I'll get you a pint at pod

 

, dont be silly mate, dont think im going to the pod tbh, got paintball shooting sunday morning and nobody to go pod with unless jb, tom, jim, rich and si fancy it 2mo poss?

 

i 2ed that your engine only had a bar on idal and done 6000+ miles in your car and is still running now

 

m8

dump the remote filter setup i had the same problems with my zvh did not matter what oil i used or if the filter was genuine or not, i dont know why this problem exists, i eventually got rid og the remote setup and i have not had a problem since..

sean

 

Remote oil filter is also something to look at!! very easy to get it the wrong way around.
the oil filter will have a one way valve in it, so will most likely stop most or all of the oil pressure IF the remote system has been plumbed in the wrong way...

As turboboss said above
ditch the cooler and remote set up just for now,
and see what its like then.

 

Ditched the remote filter and its better, the pressure is now 2.5 bar at idle.

What oil temps were you seeing sean?

 

glad to see that steve

 

Will get a pic up in a minute, I'm gutted its not ready, i love the car

 

engine:


In car

 

hi m8

i never had a oil temperture gauge what i used the car for there was no point, the oil would never get too hot for drag or top speed runs, i would most probabaly have one if i done track days....
oil pressure 85psi cold, 50psi warm cruise 25psi idle..

sean

 

Cheers sean, you never had any tapping when hot?

And what weight oil were you using?

 

when the oil thins out the tappets will normally be a bit noiser

 

dont know if the tappets are upgraded but if there normal zetec ones if you use any oil heavier than 5-30 after a while the tappets wont pump

 

will get 5w30 in it, gen ford oil filter then see what it says. Updates monday, thanks all for the input!

*paypals everyone a beer*

 

Up again.

Gets 4 bar at idle, but after about 30 sec tickover (still cold) drops to 2 bar?

Anyone think it could be a cracked block or head? I thought we would see mayo oil if it is though?
Or is it too far fetched?


Plastiguage bottom end?