low oil pressure

[jon haines]

When my 350 is hot the low oil pressure light comes on at tickover. Gauge reads under 1 bar. Only does it when hot and only at tickover. Normal running it is over 2 bar. Any thoughts guys?

[Boosted LS1]

That's probably fine, it means the bearings are getting oil. You could fit a capillary guage for peace of mind.

[KKson]

What rpm is tick over? My 350i is set around 1000rpm. If the gauge is reading just under 1 bar then around 12 or 13 psi. The low oil pressure switch I thought triggers around 7 or 8psi. For the cost and peace of mind fitting a new pressure switch might worth trying. A new one might not give you the flickering light.

[350zwelgje]

That is why I raised idle to like 950-1000rpm and it doesn't go under 1bar.
Don't like oil pressure lights flickering, which it almost never did.
Also don't use too 'thin' engine oil. Use 20w50 myself. 20w40 is just ok, but then it uses oil.
And preferred with zinc in it (old fashioned not modern stuff).

Rob

[Boosted LS1]

On my turbo engine the light used to come on at hot idle but although it was worrying the shells were perfect when I stripped it down. Any pressure to the shells at idle means they're being supplied with oil volume. That's all they need.

[jon haines]

Thanks guys. Tickover varies but its between 500 and 750rpm if I raise the tickove to 1000rpm the light goes out so maybe I am worrying about nothing. It dosent use any oil and I have just done 350 miles daily motorway comute in last two weeks.

[adam quantrill]

THis was all completely normal even back in the day on Rover P5's and P6's on tickover. 600 rpm is a tad low, 800 is more normal, but if it likes it, why not.

[ElvisWedgeman]

jon haines said:

Thanks guys. Tickover varies but its between 500 and 750rpm if I raise the tickove to 1000rpm the light goes out so maybe I am worrying about nothing. It dosent use any oil and I have just done 350 miles daily motorway comute in last two weeks.

All Rover V8 engines have a low reading at idle when fully warm. Listen to the engine when idling. If it's not rattling at idle (between 800 to 1000) you have nothing to worry about.

Tony. TCB.

[wedgewood]

Yes mine does it too, usually on a hot day if i've been in traffic for half an hour or so the light starts to flicker, I just rest my foot on the accelerator slightly to bring the revs up a bit and it goes out. My idle is about 800 rpm. I'm running with a synthetic oil plus a wynns additive which may be a bit thin for the engine. I have found some 20/50 which I will use on the next oil change, hopefully that will prevent it in the future.