Newbie - TVE 400 SE
Discussion
Hi everyone.
This is my first TVR, very much an impulse buy and probably going to be a bad one.... Anyway, picked up a 400 SE with 58k miles and a nice history pack with it. Drove back today and most things worked ok, but a couple of issues were lurking.
The oil pressure remained low at about 25psi over 50MPH - no low oil warning light but not a good sign, although no untoward noises from the engine just yet. I have a misfire at very light throttle or when you accelerate, most annoying at low speed - open the throttle a bit ad she runs ok.
So, if anyone can give any hints to the above they would be most welcome.
Other things not so good on the car but just irritants, the RPM Gauge is stuck at 1500 rpm and the car looks like it over heated at sometime as the radiator has been replaced and a kenlow fan fitted - nice flow of orange inside the engine bay!
Other than that ....
Cheers
j
This is my first TVR, very much an impulse buy and probably going to be a bad one.... Anyway, picked up a 400 SE with 58k miles and a nice history pack with it. Drove back today and most things worked ok, but a couple of issues were lurking.
The oil pressure remained low at about 25psi over 50MPH - no low oil warning light but not a good sign, although no untoward noises from the engine just yet. I have a misfire at very light throttle or when you accelerate, most annoying at low speed - open the throttle a bit ad she runs ok.
So, if anyone can give any hints to the above they would be most welcome.
Other things not so good on the car but just irritants, the RPM Gauge is stuck at 1500 rpm and the car looks like it over heated at sometime as the radiator has been replaced and a kenlow fan fitted - nice flow of orange inside the engine bay!
Other than that ....
Cheers
j
Hello, nice one 
Be grinning for a year now.
My gauge shows low as well but I do know it is reading low. Someone will be along with better idea's.
Might be worth going through the cooling system with a fine toothed comb to make sure its OK. Is it orange anti freeze orange or water that has not had and anti freeze?
Also check the chasis if you have not already done so. Worth a look see.
Be grinning for a year now.My gauge shows low as well but I do know it is reading low. Someone will be along with better idea's.
Might be worth going through the cooling system with a fine toothed comb to make sure its OK. Is it orange anti freeze orange or water that has not had and anti freeze?
Also check the chasis if you have not already done so. Worth a look see.
The only gauge you should pay any attention to is the Water Temp. So long as you keep your engine topped with oil along with regular cleaning of the breather you'll be fine...if you bought the car with blue smoke coming from your exhaust you should have walked away or dropped the price to silly money to pay for a rebuild...
Thanks so far to all.
The sound is awesome, although still cautious about opening her up until the oil pressure is checked. No smoke, none at all and the temperature is sitting at 85 ish, nice adjustable kenlow fan fitted so I can play with the settings.
The chassis looks good, no signs of corrosion although on my list of things to protect. The inside has seen some water, expected with a british rag top - some small cracks in the gel coat and a small amount of damage around the fiber glass on one of the seat mounts - will need to repair..... don't want butt on the floor
J
The sound is awesome, although still cautious about opening her up until the oil pressure is checked. No smoke, none at all and the temperature is sitting at 85 ish, nice adjustable kenlow fan fitted so I can play with the settings.
The chassis looks good, no signs of corrosion although on my list of things to protect. The inside has seen some water, expected with a british rag top - some small cracks in the gel coat and a small amount of damage around the fiber glass on one of the seat mounts - will need to repair..... don't want butt on the floor
J
keatsie said:
still cautious about opening her up until the oil pressure is checked.
I know this could well be pointing out the obvious but I assume you know that the oil pressure gauge should NOT go above 50, if it does you have issues. Mine varies, depending on revs etc, anywhere between 25 - 45.Not sure if this is new info to you but thought I would share anyway
Hi Keatsie
Couple of questions
what colour is your new beast?
Does it have a rear boot spoiler
If the answers are Starmist Mica Blue, and "no" then it might be my old 400se, (was on reg H902 POG from memory when i sold it a couple of years back) in which case thats a rather special engine.....
Couple of questions
what colour is your new beast?
Does it have a rear boot spoiler
If the answers are Starmist Mica Blue, and "no" then it might be my old 400se, (was on reg H902 POG from memory when i sold it a couple of years back) in which case thats a rather special engine.....
Oil pressure: Only when the reading of the gauge is ok....
Could be too thin oil in it, don't use mobil one modern ratings. Start with a 15W50 or in summer a 20W50 and cheap mineral to test it first.
If nothing improves, I would investigate the oil pressure relieve spring as it will go 'soft' with age. A new one will restore things to standard and normal.
Rob
Could be too thin oil in it, don't use mobil one modern ratings. Start with a 15W50 or in summer a 20W50 and cheap mineral to test it first.
If nothing improves, I would investigate the oil pressure relieve spring as it will go 'soft' with age. A new one will restore things to standard and normal.
Rob
Welcome to the Wonderful World of Wedges (www.)
The Wedge Bible says the engine is a low pressure engine and should be about 28psi at 2000rpm
My 400SE pressure sounds similar to yours John but the main cause is the gauge and sender and not the engine
I have just had mine checked as it was suddenly dropping very low.
It was simply the gauge or the sender, which are electronic,so I am going to get and fit
a new TIM Mechanical gauge from Demon Tweekes for about £30
My Time clock is already a TIM one and not a TVR marked anyway
HTH
Cheers
Richard
The Wedge Bible says the engine is a low pressure engine and should be about 28psi at 2000rpm
My 400SE pressure sounds similar to yours John but the main cause is the gauge and sender and not the engine
I have just had mine checked as it was suddenly dropping very low.
It was simply the gauge or the sender, which are electronic,so I am going to get and fit
a new TIM Mechanical gauge from Demon Tweekes for about £30
My Time clock is already a TIM one and not a TVR marked anyway
HTH
Cheers
Richard
The oil pressure relief spring is almost a standard service item at about 72,000 and is quite easy to do. I don't think that that will be your problem though. Note:
Rads go regularly at 50,000 so overheating is not a logical conclusion; even so these engines can get very hot before any damage occurs.
Sounds like you have a good car.
adam quantrill said:
50mph in 5th is only 2000 rpm, and 25 psi is fine at that engine revs, specially in the summer.
What pressure does your car read at 2,500 revs? The factory said 2.5bar or about 35psi. 2,000 revs would be about late 20s. Your car sounds about right; maybe slightly worn, maybe some blockages in the oilways so flush the block and best to face the oil pump, plus as above which oil are you using? What is the connection like for the oil pressure guage? How accurate is the oil pressure guage? This is a high oil flow engine, not a high oil pressure engine.Rads go regularly at 50,000 so overheating is not a logical conclusion; even so these engines can get very hot before any damage occurs.
Sounds like you have a good car.
Thanks - very much appreciated.
The oil pressure reads 8 - 10 ish on the gauge when at idle, never seems to go over 25 psi on the gauge. Not sure what the oil is, but am going to change this so open to any recommendations.
I will check all the connections etc before panicking.
The radiator was replaced due to a hole which led to overheating, she seems ok with no adverse noise from the engine although not fun to drive with the hunting and light throttle hesitation / misfire.
The oil pressure reads 8 - 10 ish on the gauge when at idle, never seems to go over 25 psi on the gauge. Not sure what the oil is, but am going to change this so open to any recommendations.
I will check all the connections etc before panicking.
The radiator was replaced due to a hole which led to overheating, she seems ok with no adverse noise from the engine although not fun to drive with the hunting and light throttle hesitation / misfire.
My old engine (46,000 miles) would have low oil pressure (no light on) at idle ... as you revved, it would go up to maybe 30 psi.
The new engine (less than 5,000 miles) has an idle oil pressure of about 20 - 25psi, and on full chat, rises up to 40 - 50 psi.
Dont worry about low pressure as long as you still have pressure !!!... As has been said, oil viscosity has a lot to do with it too.
The new engine (less than 5,000 miles) has an idle oil pressure of about 20 - 25psi, and on full chat, rises up to 40 - 50 psi.
Dont worry about low pressure as long as you still have pressure !!!... As has been said, oil viscosity has a lot to do with it too.
Re the Oil - my mechanic is ex World Champion on F1 Stock Cars
which he used to build and race his own RV8 engines so knows a thing or two
and he recommends Valvoline 20W/50
That is what I have run for 5 or 6 years in both my Wedges
BTW
The pressure relief valve if it is sticking then would certainly light the OP Warning light as well
If you are going to check it then there are various mods to stop it ever sticking in the future
but IMHO I would say it is not that that is causing it
Cheers
Richard
which he used to build and race his own RV8 engines so knows a thing or two
and he recommends Valvoline 20W/50
That is what I have run for 5 or 6 years in both my Wedges
BTW
The pressure relief valve if it is sticking then would certainly light the OP Warning light as well
If you are going to check it then there are various mods to stop it ever sticking in the future
but IMHO I would say it is not that that is causing it
Cheers
Richard
I use Miller 20W50.
20W 50 Oil gives a bit more pressure at idle when the oil is really hot eg a traffic jam at the end of a motorway run.
I am not sure if the low pressure at idle with thinner oil was really a problem, but I feel more comfortable with the pressure after changing to 20W50.
Rgds
Hamish
20W 50 Oil gives a bit more pressure at idle when the oil is really hot eg a traffic jam at the end of a motorway run.
I am not sure if the low pressure at idle with thinner oil was really a problem, but I feel more comfortable with the pressure after changing to 20W50.
Rgds
Hamish
andymadmak said:
Hi Keatsie
Couple of questions
what colour is your new beast?
Does it have a rear boot spoiler
If the answers are Starmist Mica Blue, and "no" then it might be my old 400se, (was on reg H902 POG from memory when i sold it a couple of years back) in which case thats a rather special engine.....
Never thought you would sell your 400 Andy. What happened ?Couple of questions
what colour is your new beast?
Does it have a rear boot spoiler
If the answers are Starmist Mica Blue, and "no" then it might be my old 400se, (was on reg H902 POG from memory when i sold it a couple of years back) in which case thats a rather special engine.....
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