Oil pressure

[roy_allen]

Recently, the oil pressure on my S2 has given me cause for concern. From cold the pressure is fine, just as it has always been, but once the engine is hot it does a rather strange thing. Basically once the engine is hot and I`m above 2000rpm, the gauge reads normal, but if the revs drop below 2000rpm, the needle shoots to zero. I have just had a service and I asked the mechaninc to give me his opinion. He said it looked like the pressure sender due to the speed that the pressure drops (also keeping the revs at around 2000rpm makes the needle jump all over the place). Does this sound correct. If it is the sender unit, how much does this cost and how simple is it to replace?

Roy.

[marcello]

Don't now how it works for a S2, but for a V8S this would look like a problem with the pressure relief valve.

Marcel
V8S92

[rpage]

This is exactly what my S3 is doing. I brought the new sender unit yesterday and I will fit it on Saturday. I'll let you know the result.

The sender was £45 and apparently they are quite rare. The first couple of places I tried habe them on order and the factory have none. I found mine at Henley Heritage in the end.

[rpage]

Roy,

I have fitted the new sender and went for a long test drive today (sunny at last) and all is well. 50lbs pressure on the move and approx 25 at idle.

So I would guess that a new oil sender will fix your problem.

Ralph

[dern]

If in doubt take your car to a local garage that has equipment to test your oil pressure and put your mind at rest. Many will have the appropriate adapter - I had mine tested at our local alfa garage. The sender was reading very low but the engine was fine. New sender sorted the problem out.

Regards,

Mark

[roy_allen]

Thanks Ralph, and thanks dern for you comments.

I am fairly certain that the oil pressure itself is fine, after all the car got me to 'Back Home' and and back with no problems at all. I will have to source a new sensor and fit it. How did you find fitting your sensor Ralph? Was it a simple job? Anything I should know before I attempt the job myself?

Roy.

[dern]

Fitting a new sender is dead easy. Take off the electrical connector (slide or screw fit), put a clean container under sender on the floor, wind out the sender from the block, wind in the new sender and tighten with a torque wrench wipe away any oil on the block, reattach the electrical connector, pour oil back in the engine.

Then run the engine to make sure you have no leaks from the hole where the sender goes into the block and make sure you're getting a reasonable reading on your guage. You should get 25 at idle at roughly 50 when pressing on.

Good luck,

Mark

PS. Always tighten up everything with a torque wrench, you'll be surprised how little effort is required and you'll do the next owner a lot of favours by not over-tightening stuff. Sorry if this is teaching you to suck eggs

[roy_allen]

What should the torque be?? I wouldn`t have thought on something like that it would matter as long as you tighten it sensibly and not as hard as you can.

Edited to ask:
Ralph is there an order/part code you could possibly supply me with?

Roy.

>> Edited by roy_allen on Tuesday 27th May 11:44

[dern]

roy_allen said: What should the torque be?? I wouldn`t have thought on something like that it would matter as long as you tighten it sensibly and not as hard as you can.

Not sure, check in the bible. Thinking about it it may have had a nut on the end of the thread 'inside' the body of the sender if you see what I mean so you would be able to get a torque wrench on it anyway. In that case you're right, pinch it up until it feels secure and then check for leaks.

I'm pretty sure I sourced my sender from David Gerald. It's not the same as the ford part but if you phone David Gerald's up they'll know what you need and send it to you.

Regards,

Mark

>> Edited by dern on Tuesday 27th May 12:03

[rpage]

Hi,

As Mark says you can't get a torque wrench on it. I just did it up reasonably tight with no problems.

I don't have the part number at work but I could get it tonight. You shouldn't need it though as I believe there is only one type. Its not a Ford part so you'll probably need to get it from a TVR specialist. David Gerald had none last week as they are on back order at the factory (who had none either). I got mine from Henley Heritage. I guess you need to ring a few places to see if anyone has one tucked away.

Peninsula or David Batty would be a good start point.

Good luck.

Ralph

[roy_allen]

Cheers guys!!

I`ll shall have to see if I can get hold of one then. While I`m thinking about it, if these things are so rare, what happens when you cant get them anymore???

Roy.

[roy_allen]

Managed to find one a Tower View! Took a few days to come and finally fitted it yesterday. Works a treat!!
Cheers for the help guys.

Roy.

[tvrgaas]

dern said: .
You should get 25 at idle at roughly 50 when pressing on.

Really? When the S was new (to me (18,000)) it was 50 ish reved and 45ish idle, as it has got older (94,000) the idle pressure has fallen, but the reved is still 45 ish.

I do sometimes wonder what's worn - pump or bearings, and give it a few revs at long taffic light waits to get the pressure up!

But if 25 low is normal....

[pies]

According to the "bible" 12-15psi at tick over and 30-40psi at normal running speeds for V8
For V6 38psi at 2000revs but higher pressures are common

Page 29


Edited to chage* to 8

>> Edited by pies on Wednesday 4th June 11:42

[Roy C]

pies said: According to the "bible" 12-15psi at tick over and 30-40psi at normal running speeds for V*
For V6 38psi at 2000revs but higher pressures are common

Page 29

I doubt if it's the most accurate gauge in the dash. I'm sure a lot of the variation is down to the instrument rather than the engine.

[roy_allen]

Mine now reads as I think a lot of other peoples reads - when hot 50 at higher revs and 25 at idle.

Roy.

[dern]

tvrgaas said:

dern said: .
You should get 25 at idle at roughly 50 when pressing on.

Really? When the S was new (to me (18,000)) it was 50 ish reved and 45ish idle, as it has got older (94,000) the idle pressure has fallen, but the reved is still 45 ish.

I do sometimes wonder what's worn - pump or bearings, and give it a few revs at long taffic light waits to get the pressure up!

But if 25 low is normal....

I got mine checked when the sensor wasn't working well just to put my mind at rest and was assured all was well. I seem to remember that it picked up from 25 very quickly so maybe your idle is higher than mine. I can't check now I'm afraid as the car has gone to a new owner.

Regards,

Mark

[craigy]

My S1 (45,000miles / no track days) also runs 25 at idle & 50 - 55 at 2500rpm. I think that Ford's engine tolerances can cause some variation, as changing my Oil for Mobil Motorsport 15/50 has increased the oil pressure by over 5psi at speed, just due to it not thinning so much with engine heat.