Oil pressure

[Alan Archer]

Could you please tell me what oil pressure you have on your K series? I have a 1.8, X Power 140 bhp and not sure the pressure is high enough, seems low compared to my previous cars although they were not sevens. Thanks

Edited  to add, X Power 140

[john milner]

When warmed up and moving a bit over 4 bar. 1.8 160bhp VVC

[SM25T]

1.8 VVC 84k miles. Cold start 70psi. Hot idle 20psi. Accelerating with hot engine around 60psi. Running on 10W-40 oil .... suggested for VVC.

[Paul Richards]

4 bar hot and above 3000 rpm. Drops to 2 bar or lower when hot and idling. 

If you have low oil pressure check that the foam baffle hasn't disintegrated and blocked your pick up. Electronic gauges are also very unreliable or more importantly the sender unit for electronic gauges are poor. Move to a mechanical gauge or if you stick with an electronic gauge seal the gap around the spade connector on the sender with silicone to prevent water ingress. 

[Alan Archer]

Very worrying, I only have just over 2 bar when hot @4/5000 revs, and when idling it is dropping into the red on occasions or just above. I only collected the car yesterday and it has had a service "including foam baffle". Are the baffles normally changed every service? 

[John Vine]

What pressure readings are you seeing?

There's quite a history of the K sender giving problems, due mainly to its very exposed location and to its susceptibility to engine vibration.  The best solution is to replace the standard gauge with a mechanical one, but a workable alternative is to relocate the sender.  Plenty of info in the archives, but here's a useful thread to get you started.

JV

[Jonathan Kay]

Are the baffles normally changed every service?

There isn't a simple answer and it's hotly debated. At one point the factory recommended that. Most people do it every few years.

Some engines have been damaged following fragments blocking the oil system.

One expert recommends discarding the foam and fitting a modified gasket for common configurations and uses.

Jonathan (Crossed with John's and edited)

[John Vine]

Posts crossed, I think!

I suspect your sender is on the blink.  Re the foam baffle, the best bet is to remove it altogether as it's been known to break up and block the oil pick-up.  If you'd prefer to keep it, replace it at every oil change (ideally, every 6k miles).

JV

[SM25T]

Lose the foam. Fit a mechanical gauge. Costs little more than one new electrical sender

[Alan Archer]

Thanks for the replies, umm, starting to wish I had not asked the question, 2nd day of ownership and it looks like I have opened a can of worms already lol.

I guess I need to speak to the dealer before I start to make any changes, firstly because I have a 3 month warranty, secondly I don't want to start messing about with it if there is the slightest possibility that there could be damage caused to the engine by the foam  already, sincerely hope not though as I am loving it so far.  

[Roadsport06]

Likely the oil pressure sender is at fault. So many have had this and just swap to mechanical. Plenty in the archives on this. Mine was useless from the start. Mechanical is so much better.

[Alan Archer]

Hi John,

I just read the article you linked to, unfortunately all the inks given in the article do not work, the ones to Ian's instruction guide and one to a place that sell the mechanical gauge in particular.

Thanks Alan

[SM25T]

I'll see if I can find my e.mail guide from November 2013. Ian

[SM25T]

Ok ... found the mail from 2013 ... seem to have sent it to a lot of people !

Let me know your address in a blatmail ..... 'send author a message' box below. Type the address in the body of the message.

Ian

[Alan Archer]

Thanks Ian, BM sent.

[SM25T]

Received .... and guide/photos e.mailed to you.

[Alan Archer]

Hi Ian,

Unfortunately it has come through looking like the complete alphabet a million times over.

Thanks Alan 

[SM25T]

Just tried another way.

[glasgow]

Interestingly no mention of spa electronic gauge. Installed mine last month and very happy with it. It has   more advantages compared to the mechanical sender.

 Ahmed

[Alan Archer]

Funny enough Glasgow I have read all the thread about you doing yours.

[glasgow]

Oh, I had fun doing it especially the last 24h before I set off to Europe. AutoThink hose leaking oil. No time to replace the hose , decided to drive with the leak. Have done over 1000 mile so far and the leak is "OK". Didn't need to top up so far and only a minor "oil smearing".  

 

Also after I packed the seven and wife sat on her seat and waived to neighborhood the fan switch decided to stop working. Again no time to replace it and thankfully I have a manual override fan switch. I actually found the spa gauge quite useful here as it starts flashing red if I forget to turn the fan on. 

[Paul Richards]

????

Ahmed - is your SPA gauge not mechanical?  You refer to a hose!!!

[john milner]

Before looking into the pressure gauge options and binning the foam can I suggest the seller is shown the start of this thread which all give roughly the same figures. There are several possible causes of a low reading.

[Alan Archer]

Morning John,

As per my previous post, I am definitely going to talk to the dealer before anything is done, I was interested in all the possible causes people were suggesting and to read all the available information on them and the remedies.

I definitely won't be doing anything major to the car as it is still standard as it left the factory at the moment.  

[john milner]

After three pages of comments I was getting worried that upgraditis might be setting in.

I would say a mechanical OPG is better and more reliable but if the standard gauge works leave it alone until it breaks. The foam is a lottery mine was still okay after several changes but I binned it in the end just in case.