Oil pressure scare

[nicbowman]

Hi - Is steve Heath wrong about oil pressure in the V6? (58 to 68psi expected)
The Sierra V6 book says 36psi min at 2000 rpm, and the oil pressure relief valve set 58 to 68 psi. The oil pressure relief valve is on the oil pump, and the oil filter is between the pump and the pressure gauge. Thus the pressure at the gauge would be a lot lower that 58 to 68, due to pressure drop in the oil filter. Everyone seems to have about 45 to 50psi, but be slightly worried. Surely that is normal and Steve is wrong??

Nic

[niels]

Mine's about 36. Think 50+ is a bit high.

[spivvy]

mine sits virtually horizintal about 49PSI

[oatz]

and mine!

[bugsy]

My S3 never goes above 48psi

[F908 Tim]

My S2 sits at 50,sometimes a spec higher.
tends to drop to around 38 on tickover when hot,but rises to 50 again when above 2000.
Always been the same.

[F908 Tim]

My S2 sits at 50,sometimes a spec higher.
tends to drop to around 38 on tickover when hot,but rises to 50 again when above 2000.
Always been the same.

[Yorky]

Mine usually sits at 0, but occasionally decides to loiter between 50 & 70 for a while. Seem like a typical TVR gauge to me!

[Roy C]

Mine idles around 40psi and max is around 70.

These gauges are not known for their accuracy, which probably accounts for a lot of the variation.

[NickP_S2]

Mine is below 50 while idling and cold. It rises to just under 75 at speed. It sits at 50 when warm.

Changed the Oil and Oil Filter very recently and this had no effect what-so-ever on the behavior of the oil pressure.

My temp gauge is equally poor and seems to go up and down almost as much and as randomly as the fuel gauge does....

Gotta love the craftmanship in these cars!

[doddze]

mine sits at 9 o'clock on the gauge till i turn it off!! as long as it is there I know it is full of oil.... if it moves lower then I will stop and refill. If your gauge constantly shows a pressure but when you check your oil level is ok I would put it down to TVR electrics and gauges.

[Rower]

doddze said:

mine sits at 9 o'clock on the gauge till i turn it off!! as long as it is there I know it is full of oil.... if it moves lower then I will stop and refill. If your gauge constantly shows a pressure but when you check your oil level is ok I would put it down to TVR electrics and gauges.

I dont think waiting for your oil pressure to drop before checking the leval is a good idear ! It could be too late ,do you wait for the car to start wandering accross the road before checking your tyre pressures ?