Radders Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 Recently, after moving the smiths oil pressure gauge on Gertie to a different location, my oil pressure started fluctuating up and down. It only ever used to sit just over half way on the smiths gauge anyway, but since moving the gauge it mainly sits at around 20 and the rise to around half way, then fall back to 20 again etc, etcOver the past few weeks I have changed the oil feed pipe and then the gauge. (For new items) This made no difference at all. So last night I drained the oil and changed the filter. (In case the filter was gunged up) I also found that the oil pressure relief valve was only finger tight! God knows how. Tonight, I have changed the pressure relief valve for one off of my spare engine and fitted a new oil filter and Valvoline VR1 oil. The oil pressure readings are better, but not fantastic. You can also still watch the gauge fluctuate between 45 & 50 at a steady 2000 revs. Any ideas anyone? I'm hoping it's not the oil pump as I really don't want to pull the engine out before the RBRR. :o Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djw113uk Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 Our 2.5pi used to do this, particularly on start up - 70psi down to 20 and back again. We stripped the engine checked the pump, bearings, thrusts, etc and couldn't find anything wrong. However when we removed the spin on conversion one of the sealing washers was chewed up, so we put it down to that. spin on housing resealed and all was well.However, unless the oil is at maximum on the dipstick it still does it occasionally. And no there was nothing apparently wrong with pick up tube etc. Has to be worth swapping the spin on housing seals just to be sure? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferny Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 Did you lap in the new valve or check to make sure it was smooth? It could be sticking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djw113uk Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 We tried cleaning the old pressure relief value, fitting a used one, and then fitting a new Witor one. Didn't solve the problem on ours! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanChatterton Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 Thats usually a sign of low oil............ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Thompson Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 Simple remove oil pressure gauge ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radders Posted August 8, 2014 Author Share Posted August 8, 2014 AlanChatterton wrote:Thats usually a sign of low oil............The oil is always checked regularly and has never been allowed to get low. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 Do you have an oil cooler Steve? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davemate Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 I dont think he has Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 What happens if you connect the gauge direct to the block? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radders Posted August 8, 2014 Author Share Posted August 8, 2014 Alex wrote:Do you have an oil cooler Steve?Nope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgetone Triumph Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 Steve, I had the same problem with the race car once, it turned out to be the oil filter collapsing internally and the fluctuating pressure blew out the big O-ring seal on the spin on filter ??) Mind you I had the readings going between 10psi up to 100psi and off the gauge ;DI think Mr Chatterton was relating to highly polished low oil...........Pressu.............No does not bear thinking about :Bdjw113uk could be on the right track, best to check the rubber seal on the spin on adapter ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazzer Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 My rally 2000 does this if the oil drops below the 3/4 mark between high & low. Ive always topped it up to over full by a quarter again. Never caused a problem with the motor and oil pressure perfect. Do have an oil cooler though. What do the marks on the dipstick look like against another dipstick? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazzer Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 And check how far the dipstick tube is into the block. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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