LOW OIL WHEN IDLEING!

[simon yorkshire]

Tuscan S 2002 - Oil presesure seemed to do logical things until this week. No oil leaks and clean oil topped up correctly. When idleing when warmed up showing 0! psi, and at best 2 or 3. Rises to 20 to 30 odd with revs on. No red oil light showing. cars, no idea how they work!!

[chimi500]

Same car, same year, same problem!!! i'm now on my 4th oil pressure sender switch. I was told that as long as the psi rises when you rev the engine its nothing to worry about.

[R TOY]

chimi500 said:

Same car, same year, same problem!!! i'm now on my 4th oil pressure sender switch. I was told that as long as the psi rises when you rev the engine its nothing to worry about.

Its worrying me and its not my car.

[whitey]

sounds like a dodgy sensor, but I personally would get it trailered to a dealer asap without running the engine. Better to be safe than sorry.

[simon yorkshire]

Since my first note I have thought about the low oil problem over a few beers. Logically as no oil is being lost and the oil pressure is low the oil must be insufficient. Now - a learned colleague at the office has always told me that you should always check the oil on a big engined car when it is warm (for various technical reasons I didn't understand). Just for good measure I checked it cold and 'et voila!', oil off bottom of dip stick. Put in 1.5 litres and it was full. I was concerned over over filling the oil but elsewhere the advise on Pistonheads was that shouldn't affect this type of engine. Since then no problems, runs at 5 or 6 when oil hot, 20 or so when cold and 15 to 30 when under load, and important the car feels less likely to breakdown! Problem solved!! The moral of this story - take with a pinch of salt advise from anyone who drove a 'frog eyed' Spright when they were trendy and telly was in black and white.

[whitey]

still sounds way too low, I would get a new sensor fitted.

[NCE 61]

simon yorkshire said:

Just for good measure I checked it cold and 'et voila!', oil off bottom of dip stick. Put in 1.5 litres and it was full.

Oil level on the Speed Six engined cars should always be checked hot, as once the ignition is switched off varying amounts can drain back into the engine giving an incorrect reading.

In Tuscan handbook (version 2 year 2000) it says oil pressure should be at least 35 PSI at 2000 RPM. Mine is closer to 60 PSI at this engine speed & reduces to about 20 PSI at a warm idle speed of 800 RPM although this can vary dependant on the type of oil used.It's possibly a problem with the oil pressure sensor as there has been quiet a few problems with these giving different readings and leaking.

[jkyle69]

Just had this problem with a Tuscan and it turned out it needed a new oil pump and the main bearings replacing.

[sideways mostly]

It could just be and probably is just the sensor -I'm on my fifth since March but there is known to be a bad batch of sensors and the design has been changed to cure the failures.However with the age of the car it could be a number of things like the oil pump so to be safe get it to a dealer to check it over.

[mactusc]

Agree with many of the above comments... I also have eaten my way thru a number of sensors but none gave such low readings... best get it checked for peace of mind

[alloypearltam]

Yes just to confirm that when checking the oil level on the Speed Six engine it should be done when the engine is hot and not when it is cold.