Oil Pressure @ 7psi at standstill

[hobo]

When the oil gets up to temperature, and the car is idling, the oil pressure is reading 7 psi.

Does this seem a little low ?

[sacha]

according to my dealer, TVR say this is normal. It makes sense, when the temp goes the oil becomes thinner so the pump does not have so much pressure as when it is cold. also, the sensors tvr use are ajustable so at the same time are not that accurate!

[alt]

I recently had single figure oil pressures in traffic jams with the engine hot. Occassionally the oil pressure sensor would also come on.

TVR Power replaced the sensor and now it's back to normal. Ie. pressure still drops but never as low as single figures.

Cheers..... Andrew

[trefor]

I'm sure mine has read 9psi once or twice at hot tickover (traffic jam hot). As long as it rises immediately with any extra revs and the dealer says it's OK I would not worry too much.

How 'old' is your oil? Maybe it's due a change?

[plotloss]

Is the oil level correct?

Less oil = less pressure...

[alans]

mine (tusc)reads 8psi when hot at tickover, serviced couple of weeks ago and new sensor.

[sacha]

plotloss said:

Is the oil level correct? Less oil = less pressure...

you cant really tell if the level is low by the oil pressure, unless the level is so low that there is times when there is no oil in the pump and that would be to late!

[hobo]

Checked the oil last night, and its fine.

Suspect everything is fine, just hadn't seen it that low before and got a bit worried.

Its going in for it 6000 service on 12th July, so will mention it then.

Thanks for advice.

[jayjay]

I get 18/19psi at idle when the oil is hot.

[sacha]

no 2 cars will read the same due to the doggy sensors TVR use, being ajustable means they are all set by eye (in a manner of speaking) related to what pressure the engine should be when cold. this means that if the engine is giving slightly different pressure that the norm all readings will be off, so the main point is as long as the pressure acts correctly, that the pressure increases as you rev the engine etc, then there is pressure and this is the most important.Question will be if TVR will find a better oil pressure sender unit which is not ajustable and more reliable as these are known to fail on a daily basis, and all dealers tend to keep a stock of them!

(LOL If TVR was as reliable as a porsche, you would be bored, be honest, this just adds to there character! Most problems are only minor anyway)