What's your oil pressure on the gauge?

[jayinatlanta]

When I drive my Esprit for a while (over 40 minutes or so), the oil pressure on the gauge at idle seems low to me. It's right above the first notch. This is with the 20W50 racing oil that my dealer uses exclusively.

Fortunately, when I accelerate, the oil pressure goes back to "normal" at the center of the gauge. I've always heard that lower oil pressure isn't a terrible sign at idle but that if you have low pressure under load, the engine's in trouble.

What is your experience with these cars?

[cnh1990]

I have in between 1st line and up to the 2nd line depending on how hot it is. Then about where yours is when at speed. Totally normal. I use 5-50.
Calvin

[techspy]

I have the same exact situation. I recently had the oil sending unit replaced just to see if that may have been part of the issue, but it stayed the same. Everything else seems to be ok, so I think it is ok.

John
94 S4

[ErnestM]

What is this oil gauge of which you speak?

V8 owners, all together now:
"Gauges? We don' need no stinkin' gauges..."


ErnestM

[lotusguy]

Hi,

It's not unusual at all to see a drop in the gauge readings once the car gets warm, expands and the oil thins a bit. It becomes more compressable and so won't register as high on the gauge. So long as the pressure rises with RPMs, you're ok. Happy Motoring!... Jim'85TE

[Skerd]

My oil pressure gauge barely moves at all even when first started cold. I had it pressure checked twice and the pressure was perfect. Blame the gauge only.

[benfell100]

On my S4 the pressure gauge goes up to 7 (bar I presume) and on start hovers around 5 then once warm goes between 3 and 5 depending on load. This, if you multiply by 14.4, ( I think that's right???) will give psi.
Don't, somebody, say my engine's about to blow or something, please!!

[rlearp]

Yes, also be careful with reading the gauge. The first "bar" on the gauge where the red marks are is one bar, or 14.7 psi. Mine, when hot outside (>75F) typically at 1000 RPM will be showing around 20-30 psi, or between bar 1 and 2. Once underway it reads more, around 45psi at ~3000 RPM and more at higher RPM. I've checked with other SE owners and it seems absolutely normal.

[mark_88_turbo]

I get higher oil pressure readings with more oil in the engine. I had about 7 litres of 20W 50 mobile One in the engine and it was about half and inch above H on the dipstick. I was getting readings of 7 (off the gauge) while driving.
It's now gone back to normal, 2-3 while driving (as the quantity of oil has reduced over the year, since my last service).

Mark
88 Turbo

>> Edited by mark_88_turbo on Sunday 7th March 08:44

[PatHeald]

ErnestM said:

What is this oil gauge of which you speak?

No gauges. Thats a shame.

Mind you, at least they fitted the four extra cylinders they forgot to put in my Esprit...

[techspy]

I would like to change to a heavier oil this summer as it gets pretty hot and I am sure the oil get really thin. What weight oil do you guys recommend for hot southern summer driving?

John
94 S4

[95LOTUS]

It doesn't get much hotter than Phoenix...I run 15W/50 Mobil 1 Synthetic year 'round.

Bill
'95 S4S

[rlearp]

Keep in mind "0" on the gauge isn't 0 bar. If you count the lines the 7 is 7, but the first one marked 0 is actually 1 bar because there are only 7 bars on the gauge. Seems odd.