Oil pressure problem with a W124 E220

[fast cars]

I have an E220 estate 1996 w124, its done a genuine 136k with FSH, problem is when warm the oil pressure on idle is nil, and running at approx 2000 rpm it only manages between 1 and 2 on the gauge. I have also noticed when driving briskly if you reach 3000 rpm it sort of sounds like the tappets get noisy?? but this doesn't happen when you rev it stationary.

Can someone give me some advice on what needs fixing?

Thanks

Danny

[bolide]

Are you using the correct grade of oil for the car? Has it ever read 3 bar when running whilst you've had the car? Or has it changed recently?

I think the tappety noise is unrelated if it doesn't do it when stationary. I've seen odd gauge faults with W124s where fuel, temperature or oil gauges flicker or go high then drop back. It could be a gauge fault in the binnacle, a bad oil pressure sender - or the car has no oil pressure

I wouldn't suspect it has no oil pressure but you should have it checked

Low readings at idle are common, particularly when the car is warm. But the needle should pin at 3 bar as soon as you have 2000 rpm (or so) on the tacho

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

[Johnboy Mac]

First item to attend to is to replace the oil filter as the oil pressure switch is mounted at oil filter housing, a semi blocked filter will cause a low pressure reading . Cheap & easy to do and a good process of elmination.

Edited by Johnboy Mac on Saturday 29th October 23:31