Oil press dropping to zero briefly

[knight]

Have noticed recently that oil pressure drops to zero and the oil light comes on. Only happens when slowing down and the needle on the gauge pops back to normal pressure when moving off. Also sometimes notice when changing up, the revs not dropping off when lifting off the gas. No idea if they are connected but both started at the same time.

[mxi933]

Have you checked the oil level?

[knight]

Oil level is fine. I'm guessing it's just a dodgy sensor but thought I'd ask here anyway. I will be booking it in to Austec soon for a few bits and pieces

[satman]

Recommend you get the oil pressure relief spring changed...costs pennies...easy to do and cures lots of 'oil pressure related problems'....

[volospian]

How "fine" is the oil level? My car starts to suffer frm oil surge once the level drops to maybe two thirds from the "full" line. To keep good pressure on corners and hard braking, I need to keep it topped right up to the full mark.

I think a few owners have suggested that for track days, or serious driving, to overfill it a bit more, just to make sure that you don't surge under extreme conditions.

It will also depend on the temp and oil type, as thinner oil will splash around the sump easier than thicker, cold stuff.

Edited by volospian on Monday 22 September 07:53

[trackcar]

Seeing as the gauge and light are completely independent of each other, if the light is on and gauge shows zero - you have no oil pressure. I would get that investigated ASAP, oh and stop driving it!

[< FORZA WEST]

If both light and gauge drop then Id stop using it until its been checked.

It is likely the oil pressure relief spring has failed as a good guess.

But as Trackcar has said both gauge and light are indepndant to each other so you have a genuine fault there and running the engine will cause you a big problem as the heads,cams etc are starved of oil.

[RUSSELLM]

knight said:

Have noticed recently that oil pressure drops to zero and the oil light comes on. Only happens when slowing down and the needle on the gauge pops back to normal pressure when moving off. Also sometimes notice when changing up, the revs not dropping off when lifting off the gas. No idea if they are connected but both started at the same time.

Yep, fairly certain that your sitting there with zero oil pressure.

As mentioned, it's your spring.

Revs will be unconnected & most likely to do with the throttle cable/bar

[knight]

Well I've booked it in to Austec so we'll see what their opinion is. Thanks for the help guys

[Gazzab]

trailer to get it there?

[DonnyMac]

Gazzab said:

trailer to get it there?

Don't risk it - it'll be tears at bedtime otherwise.

[knight]

It's now sitting at Austec courtesy of those nice people at the AA I'll post up findings once they've had a looky.

[knight]

If anyone's interested, got the car back yesterday and the only reason found for the oil press and warning light to come on was the oil level!! Have been advised to keep the oil level at max in future. Car was serviced and had a few things sorted and on the drive home it felt on top form

[mxi933]

mxi933 said:

Have you checked the oil level?

The answers are always closer than you think

[knight]

mxi933 said:

mxi933 said:

Have you checked the oil level?

The answers are always closer than you think

Indeed they are (sometimes) The oil level when I checked was at the halfway mark, I assumed this was ok but obviously I was wrong. At least I now know to keep it to the max mark on the dipstick.

It was due to go for a service soon this just brought it forward a bit

[RUSSELLM]

My 4.2 with the dipstick at the back is the same.

It under reads, where by the "max mark" is actually the "min mark"

[Gazzab]

LMAO
Really should keep oil at max level at all times. If you look at the manual it suggests checking oil before every drive, checking water once a week etc....
I checked oil a couple of times a week.

[DonnyMac]