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Low oil pressure?


Jeff210R

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I have a 2001 Roadsport 140 bhp with 20k on the clock and running fine touch wood.  But I have always been concerned that the gauge shows warm running pressure of no more than 20 psi and often lower.  Is it likely to be the gauge and/or sender or do they have oil pressure problems?  Any views and comments welcome.

Jeff H

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20psi not unusual when hot. Senders notoriously unreliable and generally poor quality. Recommend changing to a mechanical gauge ... whole kit for about the same price as one electrical sender. So satisfying to see the 270 degree sweep of the needle on a mech gauge. Very easy to fit.
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Got mine years ago ... maybe badged SW ? Black face dial. Doesn't look out of place. You will need an adaptor between M10 or M12 female thread on oil filter housing and the 1/8" NPT ? thread on pipe fitting. I understand Think Automotive can supply a complete kit but not sure of their pricing. I used a nylon capillary tube, but ran it inside a thick clear PVC screenwash tube the whole length for a bit of protection.
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Hi JK, 

You say 'PS: I wouldn't do this but there are lots who are happy with it.' An explanation may help others to understand, please can you expand why you see an issue here or am I missing something obvious. It would not be the first time!!!!

Cheers kind regards Malcolm.

 

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Thanks.

As above: there's lots of experience with conversion to a mechanical system and most of it is positive.

I'd prefer to replace the sender, especially if a more reliable kind can be found. And I'd probably stand it off into a less hostile environment. That would be cheaper and simpler, and I wouldn't have a hot oil pipe in the cockpit.

Jonathan

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Having changed to a mechanical gauge some years ago I offer the following comment:



I take Jonathans point about a hot oil pipe in the cockpit and it was something that concerned me. In practice of course it has proved to be no problem at all.



"I'd prefer to replace the sender, especially if a more reliable kind can be found" - that's surely the problem isn't it? Is there a more reliable sender?



The joy and reassurance of seeing a needle that actually moves at more than a snails pace is worth any cost penalty.



Moving the electrical sender to a less hostile position and protecting from water ingress and vibration has got to be a good start if you don't want to go mechanical.



 



 



 


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you may disagree, however I'm guessing you haven't taken any measures to reduce the far more likely risk of scalding from hot water.

In all my experience I've only seen 1 ruptured gauge oil line - that was down to the muppet who installed it, and indeed that failed on the engine side of the bulkhead - however I've seen countless coolant hoses blow under the dash though, had one in my own tintop - makes you move your feet pretty sharpish *yikes*

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I went mechanical on my last car and it gave me no concerns whatsoever and was faultless. My current car (another K) has a relocated sender - purely to maintain the original gauge- and so far it has been fine after 5,000 miles. If it fails I will go mechanical.

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I fitted a Mechanical Oil Gauge after having two failed senders. Think Automotive supplied all the bits including the Gauge for the same price as a new Electrical Sender. As for a possible Oil leak, the hose from engine to gauge is braided, with a plastic sleeve around any potential chafe point and with brass connectors. The chances of all that spraying hot oil is remote in my view. 

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A number of years ago, we had a similar discussion on BC.  At that time, I was working for a company that sold all things for Diesel engines. We sold senders that were made in China and they were absolutely Sh1te. To evaluate them, we tried to run them on our test diesels for 1000 hours. All the Chinese ones tested failed within 20 hours. OK they were cheap, but the quality was awful. The best ones without question were European made by VDO and they were still working when we finished testing. Mind you, 1000 hours running on a big diesel generator is nothing.

So buying quality is the answer.

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