Maserati 3200 oil pressure

[ikl]

Hi all (first post - shame it's not a nice one!)
I bought a 51 reg Mas 3200 Asseto Corsa 6 weeks ago. 4 weeks ago, I got the dreaded 'Error Oil' warning and it went back to the dealer - the car was dropping below 2.5 bar oil pressure at idle. I got it back today. From cool (not quite cold), it was running about 4 bar oil pressure at idle. Under load, it's always nailed to the right hand side of the gauge (i.e. 6 bar). On my drive home, the idle oil pressure bottomed out at just below 2.5 bar. I didn't get any warning lights, but this just doesn't seem right - for the first 2 weeks I had it, it never dropped below 4 bar ever.

Before I reject the car (and try to get another one!) does anyone else's car do this, or is it really knackered, as I fear?

Thanks for any advice, all.

Ian.

[Andrew Richmond]

Check whether the oil pressure gauge is faulty. Mine was replaced but even when working ok was all over the shop in stop go traffic. I only got 'error oil' on my car once - under a litre of oil later it had gone.

[ikl]

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, one of the other reasons it went back was for a duff voltmeter which required a new instrument pack. So, it's had a new instrument pack, a new oil pressure sensor etc, so I'm 100% sure the reading is correct.

From the reply, I take it it's not normal, then?

Thanks again.

Ian.

[Andrew Richmond]

Ian

Don't have the car anymore so can't go out and test if for you but from memory in 1st and 2nd around town the pressure was often in the first half of the gauge but it was fine when driving at speed. Most of the instruments on Masers are a waste of time anyway - just look at the speedo and forget the rest (till you see the low fuel light that is)!

[ikl]

Thanks Andrew - much appreciated.

Would really appreciate any other views - I'd like to keep the car if possible (great fun, even after my Lotus Esprit V8 previously), but the oil pressure really worries me (since 2.5 bar is the rated minimum according to Maserati and I'm down there!).

Thanks all.

Ian.

[ilaishley]

Ian,

Firstly you have 2 great qualities. A great car and a great name.
For the record my 2001 3200 oil pressure guage starts on 5 never leaves 5 apart from when i turn the engine off.
As an aside my oil consumption figures are 2 litres for 8500 miles. Is that normal consumption anyone ! BTW that 8500 miles is since March 31st this year so dont let anyone tell you these cars cant handle daily driving !

Big clean for the car tomorrow !

Cheers

Ian

[Andrew Richmond]

10,000 miles in two years and car only asked for some oil on the way to the dealer's to sell it! (mind you had a service in the middle).

[ikl]

Ian,
thanks for the note about your pressure. That's what I remember from test driving other 3200s, but I want to be sure before I whinge again to the dealer.

Oh well, back it goes.

Ta.

Ian.

[chris_n]

Mine uses a bit of oil, but the oil pressure needle never drops more than a fraction below max.

Hope things work out OK.

Chris