308 oil pressure

[Furryballer]

I have had pretty steady oil pressure for the past 3 years/10k, the needle always at the half way 85 mark or just over. Yesterday however it dropped to below the half way mark.

Any ideas? Should I be worried about a major bill coming.

The day unfolded with a bit of a spirited run in the morning and stuck in some traffic around lunch time. Could it be the oil just thining following the use?

Any reasurance would be appreciated.

[andy 308gtb]

Furryballer said:

I have had pretty steady oil pressure for the past 3 years/10k, the needle always at the half way 85 mark or just over. Yesterday however it dropped to below the half way mark.

Any ideas? Should I be worried about a major bill coming.

The day unfolded with a bit of a spirited run in the morning and stuck in some traffic around lunch time. Could it be the oil just thining following the use?

Any reasurance would be appreciated.

I would get it checked out. My car at 3000rpm hovers around the 85 mark - which I have been assurred is correct. At tickover it is lower.When I bought the car Foskers advised me that if the oil pressure warning light came on that I should park the car up and get it to the garage...

I did have the oil pressure collapse once. I parked the car up at a nearby friends overnight, got the AA to tow the car to my usual garage at Maldon (Essex) the next morning. Turned out the sender had perished (its a bit like a rubber ball, apparently) this was replaced and all was well...
I would guess that for the oil pressure to drop there must be a leak somewhere - a quick look around the motor would give you the answer. (?)

[MJK 24]

1) Check the oil level
2) Check the sender has a good connection
3) Swap the sender for a known replacement

If you've still got the same reading, worry not, it's an old engine and wont seize up on you because it's down on pressure slightly.

Any blue smoke?

[POORCARDEALER]

I would echo the above, the sender units are often faulty

[Furryballer]

Thanks guys.

I had a new sender fitted earlier in the year as the reading dropped completly.

Apparently there is a little blue smoke on hard acceleration. Although I've recently been told this may not be connected and the pressure releif valve sometimes sticks.

Fingers crossed.

[MJK 24]

Putting some more thought into this...

It could be that you've got the oil particularly hot on a hot day. The thinner it is, the lower the pressure will be.

With regards to the smoke, it's possible but unlikely to be a cracked piston ring. This would let the engine burn oil, but you'd have poor compression on that cylinder and you'd probably notice a slight lack of performance.

More likely is worn valve stem oil seals. When worn, these will allow a little oil past and it'll express itself as blue smoke from the exhaust. Replacement of thses will entiail removal of the cylinder head. I'd not lose any sleep over it. However, if the engine ever has to come out (not sure if this is the case to change the clutch or timing belts) then you may as well do it then to save labour.

Oil pressure guages are the work of the devil. If your car didn't have one, you'd not notice the slight pressure drop and wouldn't be able to worry about it! If you're like me, the fact that you've got one probably means you spend too much time looking at it!

[Furryballer]

MJK 24 said:

It could be that you've got the oil particularly hot on a hot day. The thinner it is, the lower the pressure will be.

I did think that at first and the fact you've now said it too makes me more convinced. Fingers crossed.

MJK 24 said:

Oil pressure guages are the work of the devil. If your car didn't have one, you'd not notice the slight pressure drop and wouldn't be able to worry about it! If you're like me, the fact that you've got one probably means you spend too much time looking at it!

Yep!!