Oil pressure gauge
Discussion
I'm a little concerned over my oil pressure and having read a few posts on here about it I thought I'd get some more informed opinions.
(a little history)
I bought the car a 1999 450 (serpentine) with 64K miles about a year ago and now it's on 70,500. I replaced the cam shaft and the entire valve train (rockers/followers/etc etc and had the heads and pistions checked and the block pressure tested at the same time). Oil changes have been done at max 3K intervals. It does drink a little oil, approx 1/2 litre every 2000 miles, which is acutually less than my 4.6 range rover with similar mileage does! Initially after the cam change I was on milners then switched to silkolene 10w/60 and tried motul 300v power but went back to silkolene 10w/60. Absolutley no smoke from the exhausts, engine is quiet and pulls well throughout the range with no over heating issues. I always check the oil before I drive and top up if necessary.
The oil pressure sender has been replaced because it stopped working at about 66K miles.
I've been using the car as a commuter over the past 3 months which entails a 145 mile drive twice a week followed by a week of horrid traffic, recently I've become concerned over the oil pressure as before I've never had to sit in traffic for any extended period and I've never noticed the oil pressure dropping so it's never bothered me.
Normally oil pressure is a solid 45+ when motoring along, but in traffic I've noticed that it drops down to 30 then down to what I presume is 20/25 (it's hard to tell). It's never got as low as 15. As I said I didn't really drive in traffic before the pressure sender was changed so I'm not sure if this is "normal for this particular car" as there seems to be some allowance for each individual cars own readings. My old 450 never dropped below 35PSI (but that said the guage always it started at 5PSI with the ignition on). I've checked that the oil pressure switch and that the bulb both work they're fine. The oil warning light has never ever come on except initally on the very first start after the cam change.
Below are 2 images
The first is the with the ignition on and the engine warmed up but NOT running.
The second is the engine hot after a mornings fun and left to idle for about 3 mins, fans had just kicked in.
As you can see the gauge reads low before the engine is running and similarly low when it's hot. Should I be pulling my hair out and reaching to abuse the old credit card again????
(a little history)
I bought the car a 1999 450 (serpentine) with 64K miles about a year ago and now it's on 70,500. I replaced the cam shaft and the entire valve train (rockers/followers/etc etc and had the heads and pistions checked and the block pressure tested at the same time). Oil changes have been done at max 3K intervals. It does drink a little oil, approx 1/2 litre every 2000 miles, which is acutually less than my 4.6 range rover with similar mileage does! Initially after the cam change I was on milners then switched to silkolene 10w/60 and tried motul 300v power but went back to silkolene 10w/60. Absolutley no smoke from the exhausts, engine is quiet and pulls well throughout the range with no over heating issues. I always check the oil before I drive and top up if necessary.
The oil pressure sender has been replaced because it stopped working at about 66K miles.
I've been using the car as a commuter over the past 3 months which entails a 145 mile drive twice a week followed by a week of horrid traffic, recently I've become concerned over the oil pressure as before I've never had to sit in traffic for any extended period and I've never noticed the oil pressure dropping so it's never bothered me.
Normally oil pressure is a solid 45+ when motoring along, but in traffic I've noticed that it drops down to 30 then down to what I presume is 20/25 (it's hard to tell). It's never got as low as 15. As I said I didn't really drive in traffic before the pressure sender was changed so I'm not sure if this is "normal for this particular car" as there seems to be some allowance for each individual cars own readings. My old 450 never dropped below 35PSI (but that said the guage always it started at 5PSI with the ignition on). I've checked that the oil pressure switch and that the bulb both work they're fine. The oil warning light has never ever come on except initally on the very first start after the cam change.
Below are 2 images
The first is the with the ignition on and the engine warmed up but NOT running.
The second is the engine hot after a mornings fun and left to idle for about 3 mins, fans had just kicked in.
As you can see the gauge reads low before the engine is running and similarly low when it's hot. Should I be pulling my hair out and reaching to abuse the old credit card again????
Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff