High Oil Pressure

[KevinB]

Hi

I have a 1995 1600cc Xflow that runs beatifully but the oil pressure seems high to me, it runs at 2 bar on idle and 8 bar + at high revs. I have mentioned this to several mechanics including a Caterham dealer and they have all said that this is okay. Are they right or should i be concerned.

Thanks

Kevin

 

[I.Mupferit]

Is that when hot and is it a Caterham branded gauge? It seems a very high figure to me if it is when hot but you should also be aware that Caterham branded gauges, and especially senders, are notoriously flaky. ☹️

 

X/Flows generally idle with very little oil pressure and even with a high pressure pump I would expect to see no more than around 4 - 5 bar maximum at speed on a healthy engine.

 

Brent

 

2.3 DURATEC SV Reassuringly Expensive

R 417.39 😬

[KevinB]

Hi Brent

Yes that is at normal operating temperature, the gauge is a VDO which is the original. Do you think i should think about changing the gauge or sender unit to check if they are giving false readings?

Regards

Kevin

[I.Mupferit]

I would certainly try and borrow a mechanical gauge if you can as these tend to be more accurate than the electronic gauges and you wouldn't need to plumb it in permanently to test the reading with it. Having said that, VDO gauges generally tend to be fairly trouble free.

 

Has your oil pressure always been high or is this a recent phenomenon? What makes me think it is more likely to be a false reading is that the op is showing 2 bar at idle. If it were a sticking pressure relief valve, for example, then that wouldn't affect the reading at idle.

 

Brent

 

2.3 DURATEC SV Reassuringly Expensive

R 417.39 😬

[Griff]

My X-flow experience is a long time ago, but we used to fit high pressure oil pumps to our Escort when we rallied. Not sure if we reached 8 bar but certainly a lot higher than a standard pump. You're measuring back pressure in the system so engine speed, oil viscosity (temp) and tolerance on bearings all play a part. We only worried about low pressure at speed since that usually meant yet another engine out and new bigends or mains

 

 

[I.Mupferit]

The trouble is that if it is a dodgy gauge then you wouldn't necessarily know if the oil pressure had actually dropped to a dangerous level so you could do something about it so it would be wise to find the cause I think.

 

Brent

 

2.3 DURATEC SV Reassuringly Expensive

R 417.39 😬

[Guy Lowe]

I got through 2 (VDO) senders in 2 years on my X Flow, I would do as Brent suggests and try a mechanical gauge, get it up to temperature and test it stationary at different revs in your drive.

 

Guy _SB Lowe _{o *arrowup*o}

The ZETEC is now running here

 

[KevinB]

i will get the pressure checked with a mechanical gauge as you suggest.

Thanks for your help guys.

Regards

Kevin

[KevinB]

Hi

Just to update, i fitted a mechanical oil pressure gauge to the engine and found that the oil pressure was actually 70 psi at high revs which i believe is spot on for a healthy Xflow.Sender must be dodgy but now i know i'm happy.

Thanks again for your help.

Kevin

[DaveMorris]

There are two VDO senders IIRC one is 0-5 bar range the other is 0-10bar range - these being matched to two different gauges.

 

If someone has swapped the gauge at some time in its life this may explain matters.

 

Dave

 

X-flow(er) powered

[Guy Lowe]

This being the case, would a 5 bar sender connected to a 10 bar gauge, read double of the actual? and if you had a 10 bar sender with a 5 bar gauge would you get a reading half that of the actual, or am I being stupid 😳

 

Guy _SB Lowe _{o *arrowup*o}

The ZETEC is now running here

 

[I.Mupferit]

........or am I being stupid

 

Please don't tempt me like that Guy ❗

 

Brent

 

2.3 DURATEC SV Reassuringly Expensive

R 417.39 😬

[Guy Lowe]

Brent/All

Being serious for a moment, I really need to know the answer to the above because since my ZETEC installation I am getting what some would say (Phil) some very odd readings

Guy _SB Lowe _{o *arrowup*o}

Edited to say that I hear on the grapevine that you no longer require a lift back next Sunday

 

The ZETEC is now running here

 

 

Edited by - Guy Lowe on 30 Apr 2007 09:28:17

[I.Mupferit]

Don't know the answer to your question Guy other than to say, I would go with a mechanical gauge if I were you. The complete kit from Think Automotive was around £50 incl a pressure switch for hooking up to a FOGB amber dash light.

 

Your grapevine may well be right as Bud called the other day and said he wanted to bring me home so rather than start a fight over me (which I can, of course, perfectly understand ) I agreed to let him. Thanks for your very kind offer anyway

 

Brent

 

2.3 DURATEC SV Reassuringly Expensive

R 417.39 😬

[KevinB]

Hi

I checked the sender after you mentioned and found you are spot on, my sender is rated 5bar, guage is 10bar.I should have looked in the first place, i did however get a mechanical guage and all fittings for £10 from a local motor factor.

kevin