Pathetic Oil Pressure!!
03-12-2008, 04:49 PM
#1
Pathetic Oil Pressure!!
After fitting Oil Temp and Pressure gauges i've noticed my Oil pressure is really low!!
From Cold it's up anywhere between 40psi and 90psi depending on engine RPM.
But when hot say 70-80 degrees (30mins driving) it falls to 12psi at idle and only 20psi at 3000rpm (in neutral on my drive).
It's a freshly built engine, done about 5000miles, oil pump was replaced as part of the rebuild, along with big end and main bearings.
I changed the oil today 15w50 Silkolene Pro R Fully Syn Esther as recommended by Oil man from Opie Oils.
What else could cause low oil pressure?
What fails in Oil pumps when they go meaning their flow rate will drop?
Thanks!
From Cold it's up anywhere between 40psi and 90psi depending on engine RPM.
But when hot say 70-80 degrees (30mins driving) it falls to 12psi at idle and only 20psi at 3000rpm (in neutral on my drive).
It's a freshly built engine, done about 5000miles, oil pump was replaced as part of the rebuild, along with big end and main bearings.
I changed the oil today 15w50 Silkolene Pro R Fully Syn Esther as recommended by Oil man from Opie Oils.
What else could cause low oil pressure?
What fails in Oil pumps when they go meaning their flow rate will drop?
Thanks!
Last edited by Karlos G; 03-12-2008 at 04:50 PM.
03-12-2008, 05:21 PM
#5
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what type of gauge is it? does it go any higher than 20psi when hot when rpm is increased. The problem with fitting a gauge where the turbo feed is, is that you are effectively bleeding off pressure with oil going to the turbo, so you can get a lower reading. You could try removing the oil cooler as a test, as these have been known to drop the pressure/flow. It also depends on the bearing clerances. If the crank has been ground for large clerances, the pressure will be less but you actually have more oil flow. This is how my engine was built under recomondations from Karl years ago. It never really saw more than 45psi when hot. You could increase this by fitting a washer in release valve spring, but it's not really benificial.
03-12-2008, 05:54 PM
#6
There is no knocking so i would like to think they are ok after such short mileage!! Pick up pipe and filter were cleaned when rebuilt so should also be ok.
Last edited by Karlos G; 03-12-2008 at 05:56 PM.
03-12-2008, 05:59 PM
#7
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Mine is the same mate and mines a fresh engine well done 8k now since i built it. From cold it runs about 5bar oil pressure at idle and when up to temp it sits a 1bar sometimes sits lower but the oil light never flickers on and doesnt sound like its not getting enough oil. I was paranoid as f*ck when i first built it but it hasnt got anyworse so i just live with it now.
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03-12-2008, 06:17 PM
#9
New when engine was built mate.
Yeah thats how mine is, strange!
Mine is the same mate and mines a fresh engine well done 8k now since i built it. From cold it runs about 5bar oil pressure at idle and when up to temp it sits a 1bar sometimes sits lower but the oil light never flickers on and doesnt sound like its not getting enough oil. I was paranoid as f*ck when i first built it but it hasnt got anyworse so i just live with it now.
03-12-2008, 06:24 PM
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Yeah i try not to look at my pressure gauge anymore 
lol! but seriously ive gone through loads checking everything on it to removing the sump checking the bearings even changed my burton power high pressure oil pump to a genuine ford standard pump which im running now just have the high pressure spring from the burton pump in it. Everything was still like new. Only thing i havent checked is the camshaft and lifters but i bought a new set of lifters when i rebuilt it and it had a new kent cam when i rebuilt it so god knows why we have the low oil pressure!
lol! but seriously ive gone through loads checking everything on it to removing the sump checking the bearings even changed my burton power high pressure oil pump to a genuine ford standard pump which im running now just have the high pressure spring from the burton pump in it. Everything was still like new. Only thing i havent checked is the camshaft and lifters but i bought a new set of lifters when i rebuilt it and it had a new kent cam when i rebuilt it so god knows why we have the low oil pressure!
03-12-2008, 06:36 PM
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03-12-2008, 06:40 PM
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03-12-2008, 06:47 PM
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Lol i know i was hoping to be atlest the only one in sudbury to have those gauges they do look good though as they were the only blackout not digital ones i could find!
they do look good though as they were the only blackout not digital ones i could find!
03-12-2008, 06:54 PM
#18
Your from Sudbury!! NO WAY!! 
PMSL!!
I'll keep my eye out for you on the roads, i'm suprised i havent seen you about or know you!
I've got the El ones like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/AUTOGAUGE-EL-...QQcmdZViewItem
PMSL!!I'll keep my eye out for you on the roads, i'm suprised i havent seen you about or know you!
I've got the El ones like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/AUTOGAUGE-EL-...QQcmdZViewItem
03-12-2008, 06:59 PM
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Oh they are diffrent to mine haha ill let you off lol! ive seen your car about a couple of times when i first got mine and know where u live not sounding storkerish promise! my misses lives in little yeldham so drive past urs on the way to hers sometimes. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Autogauge-Oil-...2%7C240%3A1318
thats the gauge ive got in mine ive got the same type for boost gauge.
thats the gauge ive got in mine ive got the same type for boost gauge.
03-12-2008, 07:26 PM
#21
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I had a brand new newman that was totally out of spec and gave me a really great 5psi at cold start
Just cause its new doesn't mean it can't be a suspect 
Doesn't take long to pull out and check the tollerences
Just cause its new doesn't mean it can't be a suspect Doesn't take long to pull out and check the tollerences
03-12-2008, 07:47 PM
#22
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i got a rare set of gauges for my erst. have to take pic in the day. looks awesome though.
all i know is when warm the needle goes to bout 100 degrees i think which is 3/4's to the end.
dont know wether its oil or water.
i get sum pics
all i know is when warm the needle goes to bout 100 degrees i think which is 3/4's to the end.
dont know wether its oil or water.
i get sum pics
03-12-2008, 07:58 PM
#23
do youself a favour and get rid of that Autogauge
they are the worst gauges in the world; i had an Autogauge oil pressure gauge in my cossie and the oil pressure used to go down as i turned the electrical stuff on in my car, heater, stereo etc
if i had my headlights on i had zero oil pressure according to the gauge
if you insist on having one; make sure you have the sender for the exact gauge; other wise the resistance is different and gives a shit reading
or get a proper mechanical jobbie
or better still; dont have one at all; you're forever worried! - drive it and enjoy it
they are the worst gauges in the world; i had an Autogauge oil pressure gauge in my cossie and the oil pressure used to go down as i turned the electrical stuff on in my car, heater, stereo etc
if i had my headlights on i had zero oil pressure according to the gauge
if you insist on having one; make sure you have the sender for the exact gauge; other wise the resistance is different and gives a shit reading
or get a proper mechanical jobbie
or better still; dont have one at all; you're forever worried! - drive it and enjoy it
03-12-2008, 08:16 PM
#24
They got a really good reveiw in Performance ford thats why I got one, quite cheap but very accurate! (which is whats important).
It came with it's own sender so that's ok, and your problem with it changing depending on your electrical load was 100% caused by a bad earth mate!
But i will checlk it with a machanical gauge to be sure, if i can find someone to lend me one, dont really want to buy one just to test with!
It came with it's own sender so that's ok, and your problem with it changing depending on your electrical load was 100% caused by a bad earth mate!
But i will checlk it with a machanical gauge to be sure, if i can find someone to lend me one, dont really want to buy one just to test with!
03-12-2008, 08:29 PM
#25
They got a really good reveiw in Performance ford thats why I got one, quite cheap but very accurate! (which is whats important).
It came with it's own sender so that's ok, and your problem with it changing depending on your electrical load was 100% caused by a bad earth mate!
But i will checlk it with a machanical gauge to be sure, if i can find someone to lend me one, dont really want to buy one just to test with!
It came with it's own sender so that's ok, and your problem with it changing depending on your electrical load was 100% caused by a bad earth mate!
But i will checlk it with a machanical gauge to be sure, if i can find someone to lend me one, dont really want to buy one just to test with!
no earth problem on my old car; replaced all my earths and other gauges were spot on
03-12-2008, 09:48 PM
#28
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ahh ill have a look tomorrow thanks rick... is it a straight forward drill and tap jobber or is there already a sender going to the oil pressure light?
Ta
Ta
04-12-2008, 05:28 PM
#31
Ya looks cool!
Here is the sandwich plate adapter i used:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FIESTA-ESCORT-...1%7C240%3A1318
Here is the sandwich plate adapter i used:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FIESTA-ESCORT-...1%7C240%3A1318
Last edited by Karlos G; 04-12-2008 at 05:29 PM.
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