Oil pressure

[fraz]

I've noticed changes in oil pressure reading.
When cold pressure shows almost 40psi when idling.
After a good run this can fall to 20 on the gauge.
Is this normal, any thoughts please!

[sethlj]

Asked the same question myself a few weeks back. See:

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=6&h=0&t=92564

S.

[satman]

Defo change the Oil pressure spring...costs about £4 and although maybe a little alkward to get too without use of a ramp, well worth doing.....maybe pop the car into a dealer or independant...easy job with a ramp (5 mins)

[kojak69]

satman said:

Defo change the Oil pressure spring...costs about £4 and although maybe a little alkward to get too without use of a ramp, well worth doing.....maybe pop the car into a dealer or independant...easy job with a ramp (5 mins)

Agree with Paddy.

When my cars fully warmed up, the oil pressure drops slightly, than when cold. Also drops on tickover, when not put under load. The spring should bring the readings higher.

[fraz]

Thanks for your help Guys!!

[tvrslag]

One thing that has always annoyed me about TVR's especially the Cerb and Tuscans is if Oil temp is so Bloody important wthen why not fit a gauge!!??

It would be interesting to know how many engine rebuilds would have been avoided with either or both a low oil warning light and a oil temp gauge.

[satman]

tvrslag said:

One thing that has always annoyed me about TVR's especially the Cerb and Tuscans is if Oil temp is so Bloody important wthen why not fit a gauge!!?? It would be interesting to know how many engine rebuilds would have been avoided with either or both a low oil warning light and a oil temp gauge.

my Cerbera has got an oil pressure gauge, as has everyone elses....

[tvrslag]

satman said:

tvrslag said: One thing that has always annoyed me about TVR's especially the Cerb and Tuscans is if Oil temp is so Bloody important wthen why not fit a gauge!!?? It would be interesting to know how many engine rebuilds would have been avoided with either or both a low oil warning light and a oil temp gauge. my Cerbera has got an oil pressure gauge, as has everyone elses....

Oi read the post properly I said TEMP!!! Idiot..

The only way of telling if your oil is up to temp is by watching the oil pressure, as it drops off you know the temp is rising but this is hardly a good way of gauging what the temp actually might be, by luck and judgement, especially as the pressure gauge rises and falls with revs as well.

[andysgriff]

Take care when changing the pressure relief spring, if the springs has disintegrated there is a remote possibility that when you change it the parts of the old spring may lodge somewhere in the oil system/pump and shear the jackshaft key or even worse the jack shaft it self.... (engine out). I think the latter is what has happened to my engine (now on its way to Blackpool for RR conversion).

[gazzab]

Or do what the previous owner of my old cerbera did - leave a bit of the old spring in there and then push the new one on top of it ! This then contributed to a total rebuild of my engine. Grrrrreat !! If you dont know what you are doing get a garage to do it for you.