another oil pressure question!!!
Discussion
firstly its a 2000 mark 1 tuscan, 15000 miles running on 10w 40 oil (at least since i've had it) & it has been running fine until yesterday. its always dropped a little oil when parked up but its always been regularly topped up.
i find it very hard to take oil readings though, the dipstick is the screw thread type with 'max' hand stamped into it further up. i can never get a confident reading, oil always just seems smeared all over the dipstick, rather than show a true level.
anyway yesterday, all of a sudden the oil light comes on & the oil pressure gauge is fluctuating, reading as low 0 at times & then back up in the 40's. i immediatley stopped & topped it up a bit but its carried on this morning. it didnt drop any oil overnight though.
the strange thing is that the pressure drops with more throttle into single figures as opposed to increasing.
could a split oil hose be to blame? i.e. the hose is losing a bit of pressure resulting in low readings, but more throttle forces the split to open further resulting in even lower readings?
i'm at a loss here & would appreciate any thoughts...
i find it very hard to take oil readings though, the dipstick is the screw thread type with 'max' hand stamped into it further up. i can never get a confident reading, oil always just seems smeared all over the dipstick, rather than show a true level.
anyway yesterday, all of a sudden the oil light comes on & the oil pressure gauge is fluctuating, reading as low 0 at times & then back up in the 40's. i immediatley stopped & topped it up a bit but its carried on this morning. it didnt drop any oil overnight though.
the strange thing is that the pressure drops with more throttle into single figures as opposed to increasing.
could a split oil hose be to blame? i.e. the hose is losing a bit of pressure resulting in low readings, but more throttle forces the split to open further resulting in even lower readings?
i'm at a loss here & would appreciate any thoughts...
Did topping up with oil cure it for a while? Sure sounds like lack of oil. Not sure about hose, as I can't remember what mine looks like, but again it is a possibility. Inner wall of hose may have collapsed. I've had it on a water hose where everything OK on tickover, rev the engine and the pump draws the inner wall together and flow decreases, overheating the engine. That little mystery cost me a fortune.
Checking the oil is a pain, just need to do it several times. Can only take reading where there is oil all around the stick and ignore patchy areas. Considering making up a tube to insert in header to try and cure the poor readings myself.
Hope you get it sorted, but don't use it til you have
Checking the oil is a pain, just need to do it several times. Can only take reading where there is oil all around the stick and ignore patchy areas. Considering making up a tube to insert in header to try and cure the poor readings myself.
Hope you get it sorted, but don't use it til you have
If you want to be more accurate with your oil level checks:
Firstly check the oil level when engine is cool or a good few hours after switch off. Try and get into a habit of checking it to a consistent criteria.
Obtain a rigid clear plastic tube that is just a little taller than the depth of the oil tank. First time use, insert the tube to the bottom of the tank and mark the top of the tube level with the neck of the tank dipstick entry. With the tube at the bottom of the tank put your finger over the exposed end of the tube and withdraw the tube. The level of the oil can then be confirmed by comparing with the dipstick.... A simple and reliable method I use.
Firstly check the oil level when engine is cool or a good few hours after switch off. Try and get into a habit of checking it to a consistent criteria.
Obtain a rigid clear plastic tube that is just a little taller than the depth of the oil tank. First time use, insert the tube to the bottom of the tank and mark the top of the tube level with the neck of the tank dipstick entry. With the tube at the bottom of the tank put your finger over the exposed end of the tube and withdraw the tube. The level of the oil can then be confirmed by comparing with the dipstick.... A simple and reliable method I use.
yzf1070 said:
Firstly check the oil level when engine is cool or a good few hours after switch off.
That would be great except tvr say check it when it's hot as soon after switching off as possible ..To be fair, it's dry sumped, you'd have to lose many litres before you started to have trouble. what you're seeing on the gauge is much more likely to be a sender issue, however it would be sensible to get it checked out asap, and if you're feeling kindly towards your engine, get it trailered to your garage of choice just in case ..?
trackcar said:
yzf1070 said:
Firstly check the oil level when engine is cool or a good few hours after switch off.
That would be great except tvr say check it when it's hot as soon after switching off as possible ..By the way Jools I have the correct figures BTDC for the trigger reference and it is quite a surprise all things considered. The engine is now up and running very sweetly on the Emerald and the car is currently in for an MOT mapping session. When I return in just over a weeks time, I hope to pick it up for the run in period.
yzf1070 said:
trackcar said:
yzf1070 said:
Firstly check the oil level when engine is cool or a good few hours after switch off.
That would be great except tvr say check it when it's hot as soon after switching off as possible ..By the way Jools I have the correct figures BTDC for the trigger reference and it is quite a surprise all things considered. The engine is now up and running very sweetly on the Emerald and the car is currently in for an MOT mapping session. When I return in just over a weeks time, I hope to pick it up for the run in period.
yzf1070 said:
trackcar said:
yzf1070 said:
Firstly check the oil level when engine is cool or a good few hours after switch off.
That would be great except tvr say check it when it's hot as soon after switching off as possible ..By the way Jools I have the correct figures BTDC for the trigger reference and it is quite a surprise all things considered. The engine is now up and running very sweetly on the Emerald and the car is currently in for an MOT mapping session. When I return in just over a weeks time, I hope to pick it up for the run in period.
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