Crazy oil pressure

[gideonr]

Just taken the missus to her work do in the Chimaera and whilst in some (lots) of traffic on the M6, I glanced at the guages and noticed the oil pressure had gone off the top of the scale!
Everything else was normal so I continued with the pressure >90 occasionally dropping to about 60 and then rising again.
It normally reads between 30 and 45.
I assume the most likely cause is the oil pressure sensor, anybody else had anything like this?

Chimaera 400HC

[GreenV8S]

quote:
I assume the most likely cause is the oil pressure sensor, anybody else had anything like this?

That would be my first guess too, I'd start by checking for broken wires / loose connectors at the sender. I guess it could be something like a stuck pressure relief valve, the concern there is it could cause excessive wear on the oil pump drive especialy if you have a pre-serpentine engine.

[manek]

As I've posted before, this happened to me once. I ignored it. It went away after a week or two. Problem solved. Effort=zero. Cost=zero.

I'd suggest waiting a little while in case it sorts itself.

[zippy500]

I had this on my griff, I cleaned the contacts with scotchbrite, but still did it. Ive now fitted a new sensor at 35 quidders and is now fine. Have a good look before you get another so you get the correct one. Ask to see the parts catalogue at the dealer for reference. The jjob is easy. Although the only snag I found was the sensor has a tapered thread and I had to remobe the brass insert from filter housing. Fit sensor on the work bench and then fit the assembly back on. Other thatn that, easy.

[blondie]

I had this a couple of weeks ago on my Chim. It's common apparently. I took it to Offord TVR and they sorted it with replacing the sensor.

[gideonr]

Cheers all,

I'll see what happens next time I go out in it.

BTW, where is the sender unit, I had a quick look around the oil filter but couldn't see anything obvious, it might be there I just need to look a bit harder.

Chimaera 400HC

[shpub]

It may be under the engine by the oil filter.

Steve

[gideonr]

quote:
It may be under the engine by the oil filter.

Steve

It was,
a new one has been fitted now and all is back to normal again.

[jacksdad]

Concerned now !

Mine runs at 45ish but on tickover drops to just above the line I'm assuming is 15. Runs like a dream, but just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get me !

What does any of yours show at tickover ?

[popester]

Don't panic Jacksdad, your pressure sounds just fine.

[gideonr]

With the old sender unit before it went wrong, the guage showed around 15 at tickover. The new one seems to be giving nearly 30. So I guess this shows what sort of variation you can get in the accuracy of sender units.

[jacksdad]

Phew, new to TVR ownership. Used to German "driving machines" that just go back to a garage when anything seems wrong. Thanks, drove from Central London to the South Coast at 2 in the morning on Saturday night, couldn't stop grinning, roof down, that sound.....

Second only maybe to a STW with UJ !