OIL PRESSURE (NONE ! )
Discussion
My Chimaera 400(serpentine engine ) was running fine oil pressure was ok not great but acceptable when I parked it over a period of about 4 weeks .Started it last week no oil pressure at all on the gauge (not a flicker !) immediately switched off ,checked the sensor briefly earthed the spade connector ,needle went up to limit .oil warning light does not work.I have removed the sump and the pressure relief valve also the filter ,which I cut open, no debris in there in fact all looks very good .BUT !!lying in the bottom of the sump I found two small collars or spacers 7mm internal diameter and about 4mm long both undamaged .Has anyone any idea where they may have come from and perhaps what they were holding together and if the rest of the assembly could be blocking a crucial oilway .All theories welcome ,less I have to take apart the better but I am not too optomistic .
Thanks in advance
Mike Stanway
Thanks in advance
Mike Stanway
As Toolbox says, they are no doubt from the rocker box gasket's.
Best to remove both and check that you have six left in the two gaskets.
The only certain way that you can check if there is proper oil pressure is to connect a mechanical gauge. You can pick them up on eBay for little more than £20.
While are you are on there, order up a magnetic sump plug.
Best to remove both and check that you have six left in the two gaskets.
The only certain way that you can check if there is proper oil pressure is to connect a mechanical gauge. You can pick them up on eBay for little more than £20.
While are you are on there, order up a magnetic sump plug.
As said above, mechanical gauge is the way to go. The oil pressure senders are know to present problems like this. Also you suggest the oil pressure wasn't good that is most likely to be a poor match between sender and gauge, also a known issue with these cars. Many cars were fitted with a 0 - 150psi sender which gives a false low reading on the 0 - 100psi gauge
2 questions:
1. When you keyed on to start the car, did your oil low pressure warning lamp illuminate? This is independent of the gauge circuit, if it did not illuminate prior to cranking, you need to check the sender/circuit/bulb out.
2. Assuming your warning does illuminate prior to cranking, when you started the car and saw no oil pressure on the gauge, did your oil warning light illuminate? Assuming your warning does illuminate prior to cranking but then goes out once the engine is running, the you have oil pressure but gauge sender/circuit/gauge is at fault.
1. When you keyed on to start the car, did your oil low pressure warning lamp illuminate? This is independent of the gauge circuit, if it did not illuminate prior to cranking, you need to check the sender/circuit/bulb out.
2. Assuming your warning does illuminate prior to cranking, when you started the car and saw no oil pressure on the gauge, did your oil warning light illuminate? Assuming your warning does illuminate prior to cranking but then goes out once the engine is running, the you have oil pressure but gauge sender/circuit/gauge is at fault.
Hi Mike you state in your original post that the low oil pressure light doesn't work. Are you sure as it is not unknown on these cars for it to be in a different place than you are expecting. The sender for this I believe is next to the oil filter . Maybe worth taking the lead of this off and on to identify the correct lamp on the dash. With the ignition on and without the engine running of course. I believe this sender is set to identify lower than 10 lbs.
The gauge sender failing is very common. Lots of threads on here re oil pressure gauge.
The gauge sender failing is very common. Lots of threads on here re oil pressure gauge.
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