mattman1234

hello all
new on here
the problem i have is oil pressure,why is it low ????
when the car is running hot or cold,after about a minute the tappets start getting noisy,i would presume oil pressure dropping.although the gauge shows pretty much zero on idle,the oil light does not come on,the highest the pressure ever goes is about 60psi.i have checked a couple of shells,and looks fine,complety clean,no stuff,or anything that would concern me.taken the oil pump apart and again,all looks good,was also told to check small core plug behind aux shaft,and again it is there.
has anyone any ideas,it has been like this since i bought the car,or is it just normal
thanks matt

LHD220Turbo

iTrader: (4)

what car/ engine is it?

noisy tappets on idle would worry me; it could be a sign of low oil pressure

what oil do you use?

what PSI to you see at cold first started?

the dash oil light comes on at 7 psi i believe; however if it does come on its more of a sign to say "your engines fucked" rather than "you've got oil pressure problem"

tabetha

You may just have a dodgy gauge and knackered tappets, if tappets have any amount of miles on them(50,000+) I would be tempted to change them.
Also what oil are you using ?
tabetha

mattman1234

its a cosworth 4x4 in a dash rush

LHD220Turbo

iTrader: (4)

what oil are you running, make and grade?

saph cos rob

iTrader: (11)

ive had all this with mine lol..... been there done that and bought the fukin t-shirt!! low oil pressure can be a whole load of things....... the main thing that will really make it low on tick over will be worn main bearings/crank - any thing over about 0.076mm clearance in the bearings and you will get it (low oil pressure that is), could be blocked oil ways in your head? in a cosworth yb you should be using a thickish oil (ford in there manuls say 20w50!) mobil 1 15w50 you should be using or something equivelent unless you warrant a reason to run thin oil? how old are the followers? and you want to be using genuine ford ina's or equivelent as you can get cheap shite one for about Ł40 odd quid and they rattle and tap.... also you idealy want to run a high pressure oil pump weather its a std engine or not as imo i know the std 2wd pump runs quite low on tick over... what is the turbo like as if the bearings are worn in that you can lose a lot on tick over......

mattman1234

thanks saph
i may just change all the shells anyway,as its quite straight forward to do,there is no sign of any turbo wear,or any oil at all in the turbo.think i should be able to change the shells with the engine still in car,i reckon the crank will just drop down enough to slide the shells round.

LHD220Turbo

iTrader: (4)

what oil are you running, make and grade?

mattman1234

millers oils/motor sport cfs 15w/60
what if i change the mains and leave the big ends for now.there is no sign of any swarf or shiny debris in the oil

LHD220Turbo

iTrader: (4)

try changing the oil first to see if that makes a difference; i run 10/50 silkolene pro s full synthetic, its awesome oil; alot of the cossie owners on here run this oil -

i suspect you're oil pressure gauge isnt accrate and you just have noisy tappets. Dont go changing the shells or big ends unless you are 100% certain that is what it is....

as an example my oil pressure gauge is wank; according to my gauge i never get more than 2 bar (30 psi) hot or cold; and if i have loads of electrics on, according to my gauge i have zero oil pressure

mattman1234

i may get a capillary oil gauge first then,the trouble is the tappets get noisy as the pressure drop,thats what makes me suspicious

LHD220Turbo

iTrader: (4)

rule out the easy stuff first instead of jumping head first into a bottom end refresh - not saying a refresh isnt worth while, it just depends on what your budget is. plus if it aint broke dont fix it

avoid driving the car until you can be sure what it is

mattman1234

i have stripped the oil pump .and that looks fine,i have ordered a new spring,75psi .will see if that makes any difference

saph cos rob

iTrader: (11)

i agree with lhd220turbo... you prob best to get a new oil pressure gauge and sender etc and check that 1st as theres no point fixing sumat that aint broke! lol

mattman1234

that for all the input chaps