Oil pressure

[rctonka]

In the three weeks i have had the car the oil pressure has always been very good, about 20psi when hot idle and 40-60psi on the motorway but this morning i slowed for the dartford tolls and the oil pressure gauge hit near zero and the oil warning light came on, orange light in the middle, light goes out when revved but pressure does seem alot lower than normal, once engine was cold i restarted and the pressure was about 30psi until warm then back down to near zero once warm with light on at idle, drove back home this evening 70mpg pressure at 20 psi, give it some welly pressure back upto 55/60psi but idle pressure still worryingly low, could this be just a faulty sender or is something about to pop, starting to get very concerned my wallet is going to get a battering, help

[PVN]

My oil pressure sender failed but the symptoms were slightly different to those you describe. My guage just generally showed about 20 PSI less tha it should have done. Replacing the sender cured this.

I don't want to be a doom monger but I don't like the sound of the oil pressure warning light coming on. I don't understand how, by revving the engine, you can get a normal reading and at other times there is virtually none. I think most senders, when they fail, generally read low or nothing at all. Definitely worth getting it checked out ASAP.

PVN

[Nick P]

I did a cursory oil change when I first got mine and put Mobil 1 Motorsport into it....nearly £100s worth of oil in total....it was worth it....it sorted the fluctuating oil pressure and upped the average level.....

at the end of the day, oil is your engines blood. much cheaper for quality oil than new engine parts.

I'd do the sender as well just to be safe also.

[v8 racing]

The fact both warnings came on is a definate problem for me, it could be something simple like the presure releif valve sticking but definetly wants checking before you drive it again

[Paulathome]

As both oil pressure light and oil pressure gauge have given a warning, I would suspect you have a problem as the chance of both becoming faulty at the same time is very small.
If I were you I would drain the oil and whip the sump off. Very easy job and may reveal
a loose oil pick up pipe or a bit of gasket glue blocking the pickup pipe.
But for god sake don't drive with zero oil pressure the crank won't last very long without oil
Other things to check would be oil pump and pressure relief valve sticking.
Good luck.
Cheers
Paul.

[spend]

v8 racing said:

The fact both warnings came on is a definate problem for me, it could be something simple like the presure releif valve sticking but definetly wants checking before you drive it again

Personally I think he was a bit dumb driving it! I think every car owners manual I have ever seen says "STOP IMMEDIATELY" if the oil light comes on, and do not drive until rectified. How revving the blox off it to get minimal oil pressure helps IFIIK..

Should be reported to the NSPCE (Engines not children)

Dave

[That Daddy]

check oil filter as not collapsed internally(more common than people think)causing the symptoms you discribe,other than that as the others have said,follow Spends advice DO NOT DRIVE WITH NO OIL PRESSURE,otherwise expect a very empty pocket

[rctonka]

[quote=spend]
Personally I think he was a bit dumb driving it! I think every car owners manual I have ever seen says "STOP IMMEDIATELY" if the oil light comes on, and do not drive until rectified. How revving the blox off it to get minimal oil pressure helps IFIIK..

Should be reported to the NSPCE (Engines not children)






Thanks for the advice and coments, but i think i'd rather take a chance in getting it back home with lower than normal oil pressure than leaving the car stranded on the roadside awaiting pickup or damage by some low life.

Any how, thanks for all the positive replies, car now home safe awaiting a check up this weekend

Edited by rctonka on Tuesday 17th April 22:49

[RumbleBee]

Which oil are you using? Apparently some people have been having this low oil pressure at idle problem after putting in 0W or 5W oil. Have heard that changing to a quality 10W such as silkolene 10/50 has helped. Never had the problem mylself, but it was part of the information I gathered when researching which was the best oil to use.

[rctonka]

i havent changed the oil since buying the car, i was told the previous owner used mobil 1 not sure what viscosity tho, i had to top up and put in mobil 5w 40 i think, i will do an oil change this weekend as a matter of course, oil is rather black considering it was supposed to have been changed 2000 miles ago last october!!