oil pressure all over the place?

[pullingpower]

What's wrong here then. Faulty pressure gauge again?
On start up from cold, nice oil pressure @60.
When I pull away or accelerate, pressure dropping to below 0 but no warning light. Pressure then very up and down between 60 and 0 but generally falls on acceleration (mild and hard).
The oil level is full. Had new pressure gauge only 6 months ago. Has it gone again???
Thanks for advice.

[RCA]

Maybe the pressure switch?? Very easy to change and I believe a fairly common problem. Mine went on my old chimaera, can lead to erratic or false readings.
cheers Rich

[mongoose]

I saw this just recently on another chaps griff on the Monspa trip.His symptoms were identical to yours,and it was the pressure sender.The guys from Dulford automotive had replaced another already that day with identical symptoms,so it sounds a common problem.

[2Munkys]

Me too PP

Same symptoms: high pressure at a cold idle and pressure dropping off to zero when givin' it beans and then stabilising when easing off with the odd fluctuation on a steady throttle. Got a new sender from TVR car parts; £56 delivered for the Serp' motor. That fixed it!

Edited by 2Munkys on Thursday 22 June 16:40

[Nuggs]

Very similar to what I experienced when my sender died. I think a new one cost just less than 50 sheets from Leven...

[V8 Archie]

Probably sender (for the drop under load) although the fact that it's reading high too might make it the switch.

[brummiewedge]

Mine did this. the spade connecter was loose,so when you accelerated it broke the connection due to the engine moving. new spade job done!!

[Nuggs]

brummiewedge said:

Mine did this. the spade connecter was loose,so when you accelerated it broke the connection due to the engine moving. new spade job done!!

I think this is quite common, although unlikely to be the OP's problem as his gauge is 'all over the place'...

[brummiewedge]

So not worth mentioning then?

[lowest]

When I had my Chim the oil pressure release valve was sticking which gave the same symtoms. Had to have a new oil pump housing to sort it out.

[Dave 500]

Before you go and get a new one clean the spade connector on the senor its real easy to get to. Mine does the same as yours every winter when it gets covered in water and road muck.

[Fire99]

I'm with Dave on this one.
Mine did exactly the same thing so i bought a new Sender assuming the old one was knackered.
When i finally checked it was purely a bad connection...

A word to the wise.. Check the Simple things first. Its alot cheaper

[pullingpower]

Thanks for the replies. I love this site!!!!
I'll check the connection first then. I must admit, I was wondering about the release valve as I couldn't understand why a faulty sender would give a normal reading at idle or when lifting off, but a falling pressure when accelerating. Wouldn't it be just low or 0 all the time?

[tahiti450]

Fire99 said:

I'm with Dave on this one.
Mine did exactly the same thing ...
When i finally checked it was purely a bad connection...

A word to the wise.. Check the Simple things first. Its alot cheaper

Me too had exactly the same happen last year and again about 2 weeks ago, tightening the spade has sorted it completely and took all of 30 seconds. IMHO the chances of a sticking PRV are pretty low esp on a serp front end.

[pullingpower]

Yep!
Gave the connector a squeeze and all is well. Thanks chaps!

[tvr si]

must be time that time of the month as mine is playing up to! We are talking of pressure senders aren't we...?!



tvr si

[tahiti450]

tvr si said:

must be time that time of the month as mine is playing up to! We are talking of pressure senders aren't we...?!



tvr si

We are talking about pressure senders , but usually the problem is quite simply the spade connector working loose and the problem can be fixed as above.