Hi All-
I know I've read about this problem here before but I'll ask it again anyway.
What is the mostly likely cause of low oil pressure reading?
Is it at the Guage? OR........... The Sensor?
The engine is brand new, 800-1000 miles, barely re-broken in.
Thanks.
Sam
Oil Pressure reading
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tim
Re: Oil Pressure reading
Have you put a manual gauge directly on the oil take off? If oil pressure is low at all revs then could be the pressure relief valve with some foriegn body allowing leaking bypass. If at tick over and warm then I think this is normal??
BTW what is low???
Tim
BTW what is low???
Tim
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Sam Danenberger IV
Re: Oil Pressure reading
Tim-
Low is almost pegged left or below 35 at idle and low revs.
It does move and respond to revs, it just not seem "normal"
As I said the engine, is brand new top to bottom, EVERYTHING replaced or rebuilt.
If you really rev it up, say 4500 rpm+ it reads strong and I would think, normal.
I guess I more concerned that it does not read at idle or low revs.
I would have to ask Giovanni(My mechanic) if he could put a manual guage on it.
I am not an engine man. Routine Maintenance is my role.
Low is almost pegged left or below 35 at idle and low revs.
It does move and respond to revs, it just not seem "normal"
As I said the engine, is brand new top to bottom, EVERYTHING replaced or rebuilt.
If you really rev it up, say 4500 rpm+ it reads strong and I would think, normal.
I guess I more concerned that it does not read at idle or low revs.
I would have to ask Giovanni(My mechanic) if he could put a manual guage on it.
I am not an engine man. Routine Maintenance is my role.
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Huib
Re: Oil Pressure reading
There is always a chance that the gauge does what it has been designed to do.
What the most likely cause is is immaterial. You want to be 100% sure that the cause for the low oil pressure reading is not low oil pressure.
If your mechanic overhauled the engine and neglected to check / repair / callibrate your oil meter system you should look for another mechanic. I bet he neglected to put a new oil pump in too as he does not seem to be interested in doing a good job.
Since you have a series 1 I assume you have Veglia instruments.
Take off the sender and check its range. It should be a 0 - 6 bar unit.
Connect the input of a variable pressure regulator with callibrated manometer to an air compressor.
Connect the sender to the ouput of the pressure regulator.
Vary the pressure while measuring the resistance of the sender.
It should be about 300 ohm at 0 bar and 0 ohm at 6 bar.
Write down some of the resistance values at different pressures. Go get resistors of those values from the electronic parts shop. Connect the wire of the sender to the engine with each of those resistors and see if the reading corresponds with the pressure which gave that resistor reading. If you have experience with electronics you may also get a 500 ohm wire wound potentiometer capable of carrying 150 mA.
What the most likely cause is is immaterial. You want to be 100% sure that the cause for the low oil pressure reading is not low oil pressure.
If your mechanic overhauled the engine and neglected to check / repair / callibrate your oil meter system you should look for another mechanic. I bet he neglected to put a new oil pump in too as he does not seem to be interested in doing a good job.
Since you have a series 1 I assume you have Veglia instruments.
Take off the sender and check its range. It should be a 0 - 6 bar unit.
Connect the input of a variable pressure regulator with callibrated manometer to an air compressor.
Connect the sender to the ouput of the pressure regulator.
Vary the pressure while measuring the resistance of the sender.
It should be about 300 ohm at 0 bar and 0 ohm at 6 bar.
Write down some of the resistance values at different pressures. Go get resistors of those values from the electronic parts shop. Connect the wire of the sender to the engine with each of those resistors and see if the reading corresponds with the pressure which gave that resistor reading. If you have experience with electronics you may also get a 500 ohm wire wound potentiometer capable of carrying 150 mA.
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Sam Danenberger IV
Re: Oil Pressure reading
Hub-
EVERYTHING is NEW including the Oil and Water pumps.
I personally got the Parts fro Mike Kristick, Omicron, and Cavallito.
I agree about being 100% sure about the reason for the irratic reading(s)!
He is an excellent mechanic, the best independent shop in Chicago on all Italian cars!!!
NEVER heard a complaint regarding his work form anyone.
Without going through all those complex callibration motions.
Should I just simply replace the sender/sensor and be done with it?
More likely to be the sender/sensor , yes?
I guess my original question should have been that.
Thanks
Sam
EVERYTHING is NEW including the Oil and Water pumps.
I personally got the Parts fro Mike Kristick, Omicron, and Cavallito.
I agree about being 100% sure about the reason for the irratic reading(s)!
He is an excellent mechanic, the best independent shop in Chicago on all Italian cars!!!
NEVER heard a complaint regarding his work form anyone.
Without going through all those complex callibration motions.
Should I just simply replace the sender/sensor and be done with it?
More likely to be the sender/sensor , yes?
I guess my original question should have been that.
Thanks
Sam
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Huib
Re: Oil Pressure reading
Don't get angry, Sam. I did not want to insult you nor your mechanic but just make a very very strong point about the importance of making sure all instruments work correctly. In fact you are taking proper action but many others are not. My compliments.
Any good job starts with measuring what you have and then take action accordingly. Even if you buy a new sender ( if you can get a 6 bar one) I would put it on my test rig before putting it on the car and test the gauge with the variable resistance.
Any good job starts with measuring what you have and then take action accordingly. Even if you buy a new sender ( if you can get a 6 bar one) I would put it on my test rig before putting it on the car and test the gauge with the variable resistance.
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Sam Danenberger IV
Re: Oil Pressure reading
Huib-
I'm not upset. Not at all.
I'm just very sure the the problem is with guage or the sender and not the engine build.
Trying to tap the wisdom of the Fulvisti everywhere!
If I were in Denmark, I would be a regular at Casa Fulvia, I'm sure.
Please don't take my enthusiasm for being upset!!
Thanks, as always, for your words of wisdom.
I will speak to Giovanni about callibration of the unit.
Best Regards,
Sam
I'm not upset. Not at all.
I'm just very sure the the problem is with guage or the sender and not the engine build.
Trying to tap the wisdom of the Fulvisti everywhere!
If I were in Denmark, I would be a regular at Casa Fulvia, I'm sure.
Please don't take my enthusiasm for being upset!!
Thanks, as always, for your words of wisdom.
I will speak to Giovanni about callibration of the unit.
Best Regards,
Sam
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Sam Danenberger IV
Re: Oil Pressure reading
Huib-
I apologize, my mistake, or course!
We Americans for the most part, are dreadfull at Geography!!
No disrespect to the Netherlands!
Ciao!
Sam
I apologize, my mistake, or course!
We Americans for the most part, are dreadfull at Geography!!
No disrespect to the Netherlands!
Ciao!
Sam
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Geoffrey Goldberg
Re: Oil Pressure reading
Sam -
First thing is to hook up a more accurate (newer) sensor directly to the motor and find out what the real oil pressure is. Then work form there.
Giovanni can do this readily enough.
First thing is to hook up a more accurate (newer) sensor directly to the motor and find out what the real oil pressure is. Then work form there.
Giovanni can do this readily enough.