lee987lee
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| posted on 19/7/11 at 10:36 PM |
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Low Oil Pressure. help needed
Hi all,
I have owned my car for about a week now and it as an digital display on the dash with a few functions on it. the low oil pressure sign use to come on
when i was going slow or stopped but i got told thats fine as its set up for track use.
Today it as been on none stop. im worried what this could be!! the car as still been running fine and ive checked the oil and thats also fine does
anyone know what could be coursing this
Thanks Lee
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mark chandler
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| posted on 19/7/11 at 11:12 PM |
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What's the engine, some are well known for having issues such as this as the pressure relief valves stick, others such as rover V8's have
it designed it would appear if they have gear pumps.
If you have a search on here you may well find the answer, "low oil pressure" and include all words.
Regards Mark
[Edited on 19/7/11 by mark chandler]
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lee987lee
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| posted on 20/7/11 at 05:43 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by mark chandler
What's the engine, some are well known for having issues such as this as the pressure relief valves stick, others such as rover V8's have
it designed it would appear if they have gear pumps.
If you have a search on here you may well find the answer, "low oil pressure" and include all words.
Regards Mark
[Edited on 19/7/11 by mark chandler]
Thanks mark.
It's an 2.0 zetec engine silver top. I don't really know where to start looking
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Macbeast
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| posted on 20/7/11 at 06:15 AM |
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Lee, I should put your location on your info
<<<<<<<<
Someone might be able to come by and have a look.
I'm addicted to brake fluid, but I can stop anytime.
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franky
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| posted on 20/7/11 at 06:17 AM |
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I'd check what oil pressure a zetec needs at idle then at what value the light is set to come on at.
A loss of pressure at idle if the above are set correct points towards worn bearings or similar.
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lee987lee
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| posted on 20/7/11 at 06:43 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Macbeast
Lee, I should put your location on your info
<<<<<<<<
Someone might be able to come by and have a look.
Thanks location added
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lee987lee
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| posted on 20/7/11 at 06:45 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by franky
I'd check what oil pressure a zetec needs at idle then at what value the light is set to come on at.
A loss of pressure at idle if the above are set correct points towards worn bearings or similar.
I got told yesterday it's running way too rich. The car should have a choke but it's set up to start no matter the weather with out this.
I'm thinking about having a choke fitted n putting it on computer to make sure it's running correct
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jabs
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| posted on 20/7/11 at 07:06 AM |
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Could try a new oil pressure switch.
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Norfolkluegojnr
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| posted on 20/7/11 at 07:57 AM |
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my zetec runs around 70psi when cold, dropping a touch when warm. The pressure should rise with the revs when driving.
Have you got the right oil in it? have you got the right amount of oil in it?
simple things are often the answer first. 
Other options are knackered sender/switch, wrong gauge for sender/switch or knackered oil pump, but i reckon you'd have had a brown trouser
moment by now if that was the case. 
Happy to be corrected, but as far as I know the richness of the fuel mixture shouldn't affect oil pressure. Mine runs quite rich to iron out the
3 progression hole issue on older webers.
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stevebubs
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| posted on 20/7/11 at 07:59 AM |
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I would put a mechanical one on there and see what it's actually running at...that way you can isolate whether it's a poor earth on the
sensor or a "real" problem...
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Macbeast
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| posted on 20/7/11 at 08:20 AM |
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Does the engine rattle or knock when idling ? If so the oil pressure is probably low. In any case, don't run it any more than necessary until
the problem is sorted out.
I'm addicted to brake fluid, but I can stop anytime.
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lee987lee
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| posted on 20/7/11 at 08:56 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Norfolkluegojnr
my zetec runs around 70psi when cold, dropping a touch when warm. The pressure should rise with the revs when driving.
Have you got the right oil in it? have you got the right amount of oil in it?
simple things are often the answer first.
Other options are knackered sender/switch, wrong gauge for sender/switch or knackered oil pump, but i reckon you'd have had a brown trouser
moment by now if that was the case.
Happy to be corrected, but as far as I know the richness of the fuel mixture shouldn't affect oil pressure. Mine runs quite rich to iron out the
3 progression hole issue on older webers.
thanks for your reply, it says its running about about 14psi on tick over and drops down to about 10 at its worst. it goes up when im driving but only
to about 22 psi this keeping the warming light on. dont know if that helps at all?
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lee987lee
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| posted on 20/7/11 at 08:57 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Macbeast
Does the engine rattle or knock when idling ? If so the oil pressure is probably low. In any case, don't run it any more than necessary until
the problem is sorted out.
this is what makes it worst. it still runs and pulls fine the only differance is the light on the dash
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Norfolkluegojnr
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| posted on 20/7/11 at 09:07 AM |
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Sounds to me like the gauge might not match the sender? you do get different types. Might be worth borrowing someones to check its calibrated
right.
that is very low though. have you checked oil levels? I know it sounds obvious, but if the oil is to low, pressure will drop.
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coyoteboy
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| posted on 20/7/11 at 09:58 AM |
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Get a proper check on the oil pressure. I think most cars min oil pressure at idle is pretty low anyway but those values sound quite low for a happy
engine to me. I (in a non-zetec, but all car engines should be *fairly* similar) run aroudn 70 at idle cold, 25 idle hot, 80 (maxes out the pressure
relief valve) when at 3K cold, 56ish when hot. Toyota spec my min oil pressure as 4.3psi when hot idling, my original warning light comes on at about
5psi, my race gauge comes on at 14psi - when that trips at idle I know it's time to change the oil .
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stevebubs
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| posted on 20/7/11 at 10:16 AM |
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If it's definitely low then is it overfilled with oil? Have seen low oil pressure on mine when I overfilled it a bit...
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lee987lee
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| posted on 20/7/11 at 10:27 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Norfolkluegojnr
Sounds to me like the gauge might not match the sender? you do get different types. Might be worth borrowing someones to check its calibrated
right.
that is very low though. have you checked oil levels? I know it sounds obvious, but if the oil is to low, pressure will drop.
yes mate ive checked that n the oil is fine, im going to change the switch in the engine today i think make sure thats working correctly
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rusty nuts
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| posted on 20/7/11 at 06:14 PM |
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If it's running very rich then you may be suffering "Bore wash" where any unburnt fuel washes the bores of oil causing metal to
metal contact between the pistons, rings and bores and possibly draining into the sump diluting the oil. One of the quickest ways to wreck an engine !
Remove the dipstick and sniff the oil , if it smells of petrol then that is the likely cause of low pressure
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lee987lee
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| posted on 20/7/11 at 08:35 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by rusty nuts
If it's running very rich then you may be suffering "Bore wash" where any unburnt fuel washes the bores of oil causing metal to
metal contact between the pistons, rings and bores and possibly draining into the sump diluting the oil. One of the quickest ways to wreck an engine !
Remove the dipstick and sniff the oil , if it smells of petrol then that is the likely cause of low pressure
I will try this many thanks
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franky
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| posted on 20/7/11 at 09:00 PM |
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From my own low oil pressure problems i'd test the pressure with a proper gauge first. This will save you throwing money at the engine.
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