another oil pressure question!!!
Discussion
firstly its a 2000 mark 1 tuscan, 15000 miles running on 10w 40 oil (at least since i've had it) & it has been running fine until yesterday. its always dropped a little oil when parked up but its always been regularly topped up.
i find it very hard to take oil readings though, the dipstick is the screw thread type with 'max' hand stamped into it further up. i can never get a confident reading, oil always just seems smeared all over the dipstick, rather than show a true level.
anyway yesterday, all of a sudden the oil light comes on & the oil pressure gauge is fluctuating, reading as low 0 at times & then back up in the 40's. i immediatley stopped & topped it up a bit but its carried on this morning. it didnt drop any oil overnight though.
the strange thing is that the pressure drops with more throttle into single figures as opposed to increasing.
could a split oil hose be to blame? i.e. the hose is losing a bit of pressure resulting in low readings, but more throttle forces the split to open further resulting in even lower readings?
i'm at a loss here & would appreciate any thoughts...
i find it very hard to take oil readings though, the dipstick is the screw thread type with 'max' hand stamped into it further up. i can never get a confident reading, oil always just seems smeared all over the dipstick, rather than show a true level.
anyway yesterday, all of a sudden the oil light comes on & the oil pressure gauge is fluctuating, reading as low 0 at times & then back up in the 40's. i immediatley stopped & topped it up a bit but its carried on this morning. it didnt drop any oil overnight though.
the strange thing is that the pressure drops with more throttle into single figures as opposed to increasing.
could a split oil hose be to blame? i.e. the hose is losing a bit of pressure resulting in low readings, but more throttle forces the split to open further resulting in even lower readings?
i'm at a loss here & would appreciate any thoughts...
I just had my car serviced, & I asked a similar question about zero oil pressure. Apparently the oil pressure reader isn't always a good match for the software in the pod, giving you an incorrect reading of zero. You may also be over filling the engine with oil. Your best off checking the oil level on the my Tuscan website which suggests...
Tuscans should have their oil level checked at operating temp as they have a dry sump and the level will drop as soon as the engine begins to cool.
1 Drive car until a hot oil temp is reached (60°C - 85°C).
2 Park on flat ground, leave the engine running.
3 Get out car and open service bonnet.
4 Loosen the oil filler cap (use a cloth - it's very hot!)
5 Turn engine off and remove the oil filler cap.
6 Dip the stick to check the level, don't screw it in.
7 Wait about 20 seconds and check again.
8 If the oil level is below max, top it up.
9 DO NOT OVERFILL!
Tuscans should have their oil level checked at operating temp as they have a dry sump and the level will drop as soon as the engine begins to cool.
1 Drive car until a hot oil temp is reached (60°C - 85°C).
2 Park on flat ground, leave the engine running.
3 Get out car and open service bonnet.
4 Loosen the oil filler cap (use a cloth - it's very hot!)
5 Turn engine off and remove the oil filler cap.
6 Dip the stick to check the level, don't screw it in.
7 Wait about 20 seconds and check again.
8 If the oil level is below max, top it up.
9 DO NOT OVERFILL!
I, too, would suspect the sender unit. Get that checked first, they were a known issue and are cheap to replace.
Also, you can get a rough oil level without third degree burns as follows:
o) start engine
o) drive a short distance, 'til the oil temperature is about 40 (water hopefully under 70)
o) open the bonnet
o) stop the engine and, as quickly as possible, take out the dipstick, clean it, push it in (don't screw)
This won't be as accurate as a proper measurement, and the level will show 5mm (ish) low because you didn't screw the cap in. But if that reading is above the minimum, you've no need to panic.
Also, you can get a rough oil level without third degree burns as follows:
o) start engine
o) drive a short distance, 'til the oil temperature is about 40 (water hopefully under 70)
o) open the bonnet
o) stop the engine and, as quickly as possible, take out the dipstick, clean it, push it in (don't screw)
This won't be as accurate as a proper measurement, and the level will show 5mm (ish) low because you didn't screw the cap in. But if that reading is above the minimum, you've no need to panic.
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