Oil Pressure

[milothedog]

I know this has been talked about before and I had read all the old threads but am curious what other cars happily run at. Don't get me wrong, my cars fine (he confidently say's:?)

There just seems to be quite a variation reported by different owners. To start it off, my gauge will read 35psi cold at idle and drops to about 25psi hot,(never lower than 20) and at 2000-2500 RPM it is 50 psi cold and 45psi hot and never exceeds 50psi but I suppose that's down to the spring in the relief valve doing it's job.

Ian.

[Stagdad]

imported post

Ian ,mine are just the same as yours so either both our engines are good or both sha**ed:P.

Cheers Steve

[scarts]

imported post

Mine is the same except hot idle pressure is slightly higher at almost 25psi.

I use Halfords Classic 20/50.

SteveC

[sjm]

imported post

milothedog wrote:

I know this has been talked about before and I had read all the old threads but am curious what other cars happily run at. Don't get me wrong, my cars fine (he confidently say's:?)

There just seems to be quite a variation reported by different owners. To start it off, my gauge will read 35psi cold at idle and drops to about 25psi hot,(never lower than 20) and at 2000-2500 RPM it is 50 psi cold and 45psi hot and never exceeds 50psi but I suppose that's down to the spring in the relief valve doing it's job.

Ian.

Hi Ian,

what can one say different gauges etc.. but mine has always remained 50 psi hot at the 2000 RPM range but increases slightly when pushing it to the top of the rev range, on hot tick over 20psi, on the my other Stag which has an electric gauge it reads 70psi hot and increases when pushed, and 50 psi cold, so I have just got hold of a Hobourn Eaton pump which I will either fit or just try the spring to see if this makes a difference.

Steve

[ampotter]

imported post

Hi Ian

These are the readings that I get from my car. It has done about 8000 miles since the engine was rebuilt.

When cold at 2000rpm (4 gear) the presure will indicate up to 50. I will drive the car for a few miles to allow the engine to warm up before increasing the revs.

This will gradually fall as the engine warms.

When hot at about 2000 rpm (4 gear)the gauge reads 40-42 and rises to 50 as the revs build up (3000 +) and at tickover it reads 20 ish.

I have read articles in classic car mags that the oil presure should read beteen 40 and 50.

Hope that this is of use

Andrew

[Andy Rundell]

imported post

Minewas the usual 25 at hot idle, and 45-50 at 2000-2500 cruiseing rpm.

I did get a small increase of 3-5psi since changing to VR-1

.............Andy

[milothedog]

imported post

Thank's for all the replies Guy's, Steve H, Scarts, Andrew, It's nice to know my car is not in the minority.

Steve M, Take your point about the different gauges, I have toyed with the idea of bleeding the air out of the pipe to it on mine to see if the reading improves.

Andy, like you I switched to VR1, 2 oil changes ago on Russ's advice and like you did see a slight increase in pressure but the most noticeable thing was the oil's ability to maintain it's higher viscosity at the higher temperatures.

Keep the info coming Guy's.

Ian.

[Stevekid1]

imported post

Hi Ian,

Mines about the same as yours, 20-25psi hot at 650-700revs and 45-50psi at 2500-3000revs. Does not go above 50psi and currently using unipart 20/50 oil. Will be changing to VR1 at next oil change once the new timing chains have bedded in.

Steve

[martin]

imported post

Sorry to be boring Ian, but my figures pretty much match yours, almost exactly what they should be. I'm on VR1, another Russ disciple.
If you can bleed the gauge without emptying the sump into your face I'll be impressed no need, the air above the oil in the pipe is at the same pressure as the oil. Martin.

[milothedog]

imported post

I know mate, your dead right of course, but it's one of those things. Curiosity killed the cat and all that.I was thinking more of just loosening the connection with a bit of rag underneath it. See you Friday, looking forward to it. First one there buy's the Beer:P

Ian.

[Andy Rundell]

imported post

milothedog wrote:

Andy, like you I switched to VR1, 2 oil changes ago on Russ's advice

My switch to VR1 was driven by the fact that I managed to reduce my oil consumption to a reasonable level last year - before that I saw no point in putting expensive oil in :dude:

[chopperman]

imported post

Unless you have the means to calibrate your oil pressure guage, you should look on it as a "trend monitoring tool". This means that you watch for changes in your oil pressure under similar driving conditions. only when there is a drastic change should you worry.

Keith

[martin]

imported post

chopperman wrote:

Unless you have the means to calibrate your oil pressure guage, you should look on it as a "trend monitoring tool". This means that you watch for changes in your oil pressure under similar driving conditions. only when there is a drastic change should you worry.

Keith

Take your point Keith, but I've tried three different capilliary gauges on mine and they all read the same. As for electric ones, you're 100% right. Martin.