350i oil pressure issue resolved

[KKson]

Well the saga of the variable and sometimes none existent oil pressure all sorted. My gauge is a SW unit, not VDO. I've eventually found a suitable sender unit off flea with the right resistance and pressure is now all good. Before I fitted it I attached it to an air line and checked the air pressure against the oil gauge pressure and both are within a couple of psi.

My gauge is the SW 0 to 100psi (7 bar) unit. Senders from the specialists are the wrong side of £50. The one that I got was £10 off flea plus a bit of postage and works a treat, for now anyway! For peace of mind I wanted a gauge that actually worked for the BBWF.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251091382046?_trksid=p20...

[ElvisWedgely]

What pressure reading are you getting hot and cold with the new sender?

Tony. TCB.

[KKson]

ElvisWedgely said:

What pressure reading are you getting hot and cold with the new sender?

Tony. TCB.

Tony, I only ran it for a minute tonight in the garage due to the rain so not sure yet. I'll give it a good run on Sunday and check the figures. The previous sender was causing the gauge to read around 15 to 20psi from cold, but the actual mechanical test gauge I'd bought showed around 50psi. When I fired it up tonight it was just over 45psi cold.

With the air compressor supply on to the sender unit and connected to the dashboard oil gauge I checked pressures at 10psi, 20psi and 50psi and the gauge read within 2 psi of air gauge pressure.

[ElvisWedgely]

That sounds pretty good and about as close as you'll get. Don't forget these readings are only approximate anyway. Well done.

Tony. TCB.

[KKson]

Had a good blast out tonight down the lanes to top up with 97 octane in readiness for the weekend. Oil pressure is 45psi cold and 25psi at tickover hot. Pretty happy with that.

[mrzigazaga]

KKson said:

Had a good blast out tonight down the lanes to top up with 97 octane in readiness for the weekend. Oil pressure is 45psi cold and 25psi at tickover hot. Pretty happy with that.

...Goodo...

[ElvisWedgely]

KKson said:

Had a good blast out tonight down the lanes to top up with 97 octane in readiness for the weekend. Oil pressure is 45psi cold and 25psi at tickover hot. Pretty happy with that.

I have to say 25 at tick over when warm is very good for a V8.

Tony. TCB.

[phantom wedge]

sorry is this test on your 350i or your 390, Crawford.

[phantom wedge]

for get that last request not awake yet

[KKson]

It's the 350i. The 390 gauge is steady but with very similar pressures to the 350, but I did put a new oil pump in the 390 when the engine was stripped down for the camshaft change.