Oil pressure question - again..

[keatsie]

Ok, so finally got round to replacing the oil pressure relief spring and plug today. What a pain that was!

Anyway, started the car and expected a massive difference in oil pressure and.... Still the bleeding same!! The oil pressure gauge is reading about 10 - 12 psi at idle and about 20 at 2500 rpm. I am running 20w50 oil am I really looking at a knackered oil pump? I don't have any rattles or untoward noises etc but this seems really low, the oil pressure warning never comes on when the engine is running.

Ideas or just ignore I am being paranoid??

[utternutter]

mines the same pressure you're quoting and my cars only done 34500 miles from New and I have just service with Miller's 20/50, and that's warm too so it must be normal-ish lol, I have no worries with it as its within normal parameters but if hill climbing etc I'd recommend installing a oil cooler, I'm looking at doing so next winter when car is garaged again but still I have no worries with it this year

[ElvisWedgely]

So far I have owned three V8 Wedges in the past. A 3.9, a 4.5. and a 400 and all three have had oil pressure between 10 and 15 when warm and idling. I too have been worried about this in the past but it has never been a problem as it is normal on these cars. I have never had any problem with any of the three Wedges I have previously owned because of this, even though I used them all the time. Here are the things you should be looking for if you want to start worrying.

. Black/blue smoke blowing out of exhaust especially when engine is warm.

. Tappet noises from engine when warm and idling.(indicates very low oil pressure)

. Red oil light flickering or staying on when you know that the oil pressure sensor is in good condition and working.

. Loss of oil through burning or mixing with water.(frequent oil top ups even though there are no obvious oil leaks.

If all of these are OK, relax and enjoy your car.

Tony. TCB

[smash]

Rover V8 have traditionally low oil pressure - have you tried a high pressure relief spring from Real Steel? http://www.realsteel.co.uk

[Danny Hoffman]

You can get an adjustable kit or even make one if you have access to a workshop as detailed

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=gmSavy1RPxEC&am...

I have one fitted to my 350i

Edited by Danny Hoffman on Sunday 24th February 18:19