jimjames2uk
Member
anyone know what the oil pressure should be on a series 3 diesiel engine
You don't want too much of that pressure stuff.
Enough is more than plenty, and there is a pressure limiting valve (some call it a pressure relief valve) in the system to stop the pressure going too high.
I had an Austin Maxi (great car!) way back and I fitted an oil pressure gauge to it. It went twice round the dial as soon as I started up! Pressure relief valve was seized solid - shut. It was getting well over TWO HUNDRED psi oil pressure!
The oil is there to lube, to cool, and to clean things up.
If the pressure goes too high then too much oil gets sprayed about inside the engine, it may get smokey, and sometimes seals get blown out. Too much oil pressure is all bad news.
Your engine will come to no harm as long as you have SOME pressure, and a steady 20 psi will do just fine, though between 40 and 60 is probably intended.
CharlesY
Enough is more than plenty, and there is a pressure limiting valve (some call it a pressure relief valve) in the system to stop the pressure going too high.
I had an Austin Maxi (great car!) way back and I fitted an oil pressure gauge to it. It went twice round the dial as soon as I started up! Pressure relief valve was seized solid - shut. It was getting well over TWO HUNDRED psi oil pressure!
The oil is there to lube, to cool, and to clean things up.
If the pressure goes too high then too much oil gets sprayed about inside the engine, it may get smokey, and sometimes seals get blown out. Too much oil pressure is all bad news.
Your engine will come to no harm as long as you have SOME pressure, and a steady 20 psi will do just fine, though between 40 and 60 is probably intended.
CharlesY
jimjames2uk
Member
thanks fellas think have a problem then starts at 20 ish and as gets hotter oil thins drops off to around nothing ish
Well now, that is a classic symptom of low oil pressure (DUCK .!) .... and the first thing to do is LISTEN as the engine is ticking over. If there are terrible clonking and clattering noises then it looks like a failure of crankshaft main bearings or similar.
However, don't give up yet. LOW pressure like that is also a typical symptom of a pressure relief valve that is stuck wide OPEN, and this is dead easy to fix once you find the valve, which I think is an integral part of the oil pump. Sump OFF job unfortunately.
What does a recon oil pump cost? Might be the way to go.
CharlesY
However, don't give up yet. LOW pressure like that is also a typical symptom of a pressure relief valve that is stuck wide OPEN, and this is dead easy to fix once you find the valve, which I think is an integral part of the oil pump. Sump OFF job unfortunately.
What does a recon oil pump cost? Might be the way to go.
CharlesY
unless yer certain what oil is in it. i'd change that first before rippin things apart.. its easy to do and will be cheaper and quicker than checkin yer pump. if its after changing the oil it still does it ,then you can try other stuff.
its not unknown for turnips to put oil that is too light in there. the result being once it gets hot it becomes too thin.
its not unknown for turnips to put oil that is too light in there. the result being once it gets hot it becomes too thin.
Good plan that, and one glance at the oil coming out will tell you how thin it is.
However, even if some clot put auto-box transmission fluid in the sump, I would not expect total collapse of the pressure unless the whole engine is pretty tired.
It was a good suggestion to swap the oil pressure sender, or better to fit a gauge that isn't electric, to check the pressure really is very low. You might get lucky and find it's a dodgy sender at three quid.
But I fear not. So take care in case extremely low oil pressure ends up causing catastrophic damage.
CharlesY
However, even if some clot put auto-box transmission fluid in the sump, I would not expect total collapse of the pressure unless the whole engine is pretty tired.
It was a good suggestion to swap the oil pressure sender, or better to fit a gauge that isn't electric, to check the pressure really is very low. You might get lucky and find it's a dodgy sender at three quid.
But I fear not. So take care in case extremely low oil pressure ends up causing catastrophic damage.
CharlesY
I agree with that.
There's only so many places the pressure can be lost from, assuming of course that the pump is making a decent pressure to start with.
Pump may be goosed.
CHarlesY
