Oil be blowed....
Discussion
God these puns are getting worse - sorry about that chaps!
As you know I'm a bit of numpty when it gets to the oily bits, so I lean on you guys for advice. Last night the oil warning light came on for a couple of seconds while I was sitting idle at traffic lights. That's the only time it has done it.
I have pulled up the dipstick several times this morning, and there's virtually no oil on it at all - but the oil pressure gauge is registering a steady 40.
Sounds like I should top it up should I? If so, what with? The manual says something about "SAE15W40" or something like that, but at my local Halfrauds, they have 0W40, or 5W50. What on earth is the difference between all these, and which should I use?!
As you know I'm a bit of numpty when it gets to the oily bits, so I lean on you guys for advice. Last night the oil warning light came on for a couple of seconds while I was sitting idle at traffic lights. That's the only time it has done it.
I have pulled up the dipstick several times this morning, and there's virtually no oil on it at all - but the oil pressure gauge is registering a steady 40.
Sounds like I should top it up should I? If so, what with? The manual says something about "SAE15W40" or something like that, but at my local Halfrauds, they have 0W40, or 5W50. What on earth is the difference between all these, and which should I use?!
First rule of engines is *any oil is better than no oil* so use "spry crisp and dry" if you have to, but under no circumstances run it with *no* oil like you are at the moment.
The light sender is much quicker to react than the oil gausge, which by it's action (a small hole feeding a small bore pipe feeding another small hole and a mechanical bellows mechanism) is damped in its action. In short it has a time delay between the oil pressure dropping and telling you about it, it's only slight but it's there.
If your level has dropped off the end of teh dipstick you're typically 2-3 litres down on oil if not more .. yuo *will* have intermittent air locks passing through the oil system, momentarily starving the bearings of oil, this will probably have been happening for a while before you noticed the light.
Chances are you *will* have caused some damage to the bearings, even though you may not notice any pressure changes if the oil pump is capable of offsetting the extra flow loss from the worn bearings.
Please please check your oil each week and keep it topped up to maximum.
... and we still wonder where TVR's reputation for unreliability comes from .. it comes from some owners!
Oil : use any famous name fully synthetic oil of any grade you fancy but just get some in there and quick!
The light sender is much quicker to react than the oil gausge, which by it's action (a small hole feeding a small bore pipe feeding another small hole and a mechanical bellows mechanism) is damped in its action. In short it has a time delay between the oil pressure dropping and telling you about it, it's only slight but it's there.
If your level has dropped off the end of teh dipstick you're typically 2-3 litres down on oil if not more .. yuo *will* have intermittent air locks passing through the oil system, momentarily starving the bearings of oil, this will probably have been happening for a while before you noticed the light.
Chances are you *will* have caused some damage to the bearings, even though you may not notice any pressure changes if the oil pump is capable of offsetting the extra flow loss from the worn bearings.
Please please check your oil each week and keep it topped up to maximum.
... and we still wonder where TVR's reputation for unreliability comes from .. it comes from some owners!
Oil : use any famous name fully synthetic oil of any grade you fancy but just get some in there and quick!
Yup, I totally am with Joo, Tiv hasnt seen much justice from ignorant owners and 'take the piss' dealers (some indies too!) - oil is the life of your engine! Check on a daily basis - the pattern of oil burn can vary, so dont expect the rules of the 'german car world' to apply to a SOHC 16 valve V8 old skool engine... If your oil level was at the level you have mentioned, you could have decreased the life of that poor engine considerably! (I hope not, for your bank balance's sake)
Okay chaps, thanks for that. My Chim didn't burn any oil in 8 months and 10,000 miles, so I'm was unprepared for this! I had been wondering about it, but as I'm due a service in a couple of weeks, had got lazy..... well we all learn the hard way 
As for reliability - the Chim didn't miss a beat in that time!
As for reliability - the Chim didn't miss a beat in that time!
Well thanks for that. Just re-read the thread, and it appears I am now branded a TVR denigrating inept idiot who should be driving anything but his dream.
I would have thought I'm not the first person to ask, nor will I be the last, I haven't driven the car since, and instead sought advice. More fool me.
Looking back through the threads there's several comments about the "correct" way to read a Cerbera dipstick, and indeed the edges of it are liberally coated with oil, just not the face. Perhaps I could have got it wrong, and wanted some sage advice before doing anything?
No matter. I have learned my lesson.
I would have thought I'm not the first person to ask, nor will I be the last, I haven't driven the car since, and instead sought advice. More fool me.
Looking back through the threads there's several comments about the "correct" way to read a Cerbera dipstick, and indeed the edges of it are liberally coated with oil, just not the face. Perhaps I could have got it wrong, and wanted some sage advice before doing anything?
No matter. I have learned my lesson.
redleicester said:
Well thanks for that. Just re-read the thread, and it appears I am now branded a TVR denigrating inept idiot who should be driving anything but his dream.
Chin up, mate... easy mistake to make. Doubt you'll be the first or last to do it. Better you asked than left it running like that. It's a little bit thin, but Mobil-1 0w40 from Halfrauds should do fine. Be sure to take your oil-readings with the car on a flat surface, too, as that can really throw how full it looks.
Yep, 10w-40 fully or semi synthetic.
Just use a decent one, I've plenty here from ester fully synthetic based to cost option semi-synthetics.
www.opieoils.co.uk/lubricants.htm
Overnight delivery on all and if you want a price list then just email or call me: sales@opieoils.co.uk
Cheers
Guy
Just use a decent one, I've plenty here from ester fully synthetic based to cost option semi-synthetics.
www.opieoils.co.uk/lubricants.htm
Overnight delivery on all and if you want a price list then just email or call me: sales@opieoils.co.uk
Cheers
Guy
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