R500 Losing oil pressure whilst on track!
Discussion
yes or the Miller's equivalent.
But back to your original problem, you need to work out whether your oil pressure went down or whether it was a measuring/instrument problem. If the OP actually went down, your engine (or perhaps pump) is knackered. You may have had oil level too low, but the low OP will have damaged the engine. Or the pressure went down because of an engine problem. Either way a rebuild is in the offing.
If the measurement failed, then that just needs to be fixed (fingers crossed).
And (in fear of sounding a condescending t
t), my recommendation is that if the OP dies, you should turn the engine off, not drive it to the pits and leave it idling!
Bert
But back to your original problem, you need to work out whether your oil pressure went down or whether it was a measuring/instrument problem. If the OP actually went down, your engine (or perhaps pump) is knackered. You may have had oil level too low, but the low OP will have damaged the engine. Or the pressure went down because of an engine problem. Either way a rebuild is in the offing.
If the measurement failed, then that just needs to be fixed (fingers crossed).
And (in fear of sounding a condescending t
t), my recommendation is that if the OP dies, you should turn the engine off, not drive it to the pits and leave it idling!Bert
Fresh Comma 5w50 should be OK and I wouldn't go to a 10w60 yet (if at all), but knowing the previous history, and what has happened in those 1100 miles, would be useful. It is possible that the oil is the original since rebuild and I know from experience that Comma can shear down to something more like 5w30 pretty quickly. An oil change with a good quality (ester based) oil would be my first move.
More generally, I think there are too many unknowns here to make any conclusive judgement. A newly refreshed engine, you being new to the car, first time on track, etc, etc. You really need to get some more miles on the engine and get to know it better and monitor oil pressure behavior. An engine refresh is no guarantee of all being in tolerance and its general condition may not allow it to be treated like a zero hour example. If oil pressure did drop as low as you suggest, then I doubt it would have survived. The chances are it just got lower than the threshold of your warning settings - after track driving, that's normal at idle, but maybe not at driving speeds.
More generally, I think there are too many unknowns here to make any conclusive judgement. A newly refreshed engine, you being new to the car, first time on track, etc, etc. You really need to get some more miles on the engine and get to know it better and monitor oil pressure behavior. An engine refresh is no guarantee of all being in tolerance and its general condition may not allow it to be treated like a zero hour example. If oil pressure did drop as low as you suggest, then I doubt it would have survived. The chances are it just got lower than the threshold of your warning settings - after track driving, that's normal at idle, but maybe not at driving speeds.
Edited by DCL on Wednesday 5th August 08:31
BertBert said:
you need to work out whether your oil pressure went down or whether it was a measuring/instrument problem. If the OP actually went down, your engine (or perhaps pump) is knackered. You may have had oil level too low, but the low OP will have damaged the engine. Or the pressure went down because of an engine problem. Either way a rebuild is in the offing.
+1.I'd support what Graham says above. You need to find the cause of the issue, not trying to address symptoms. It could be something innocuous, but better to be prudent where OP is concerned IMHO.
BertBert said:
rubystone said:
I always checked my oil with engine warm and running.
Then you is confused. The correct method has already been posted.Bert
Unless you can prove to your satisfaction that it was a sender/electrical problem, I wouldn't run the engine again without at least removing the sump and having a look at the bearings. Better a rebuild now than a thrown rod and new engine as if the pressure did drop on track, there will be damage 
BertBert said:
The dipstick in the top was completely useless and mostly fell out anyway.
The dip from the bottom method, hot and stopped was what Minister said was the way!
Bert
Stewart rebuilt my engine (what a waste of talent...he's now an electrician, I'm given to understand) 'twas him that told me to dip it whilst running....if Graeme had told me, I might have questioned him....but Stewart..an artist.....so it could well have depended on who at Minister gave you your advice, Graham....I don't think I ever heard David utter more than 3 words when I was in his presence, mind The dip from the bottom method, hot and stopped was what Minister said was the way!
Bert
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