The 'E' Type Forum

Finally putting some longer journeys on my E and quick question on oil pressure
I've been using the car daily for a couple of weeks and went down to hailing Island the other day
Probably 60 odd miles there
Kind of went easy on the way down and no problems other than a blowing exhaust
On way back pushed it fairly hard for the last 20 miles or so
Question is
Start up cold with used oil rather than new oil I get about 50 psi
With about 40 psi idle
Once hot I get about 20-30 psi idle and 40 psi hot on a run holding steady
But after that hard run I came off the motorway to a stop and the oil pressure dropped to about 10 psi or slightly less at idle
It came back up to 40 psi once I got going again
I parked the car up for a bit and oil pressure after starting went back to about 20 psi hot
Does this seem odd or is it normal for an older engine
No noises other than a slight tapping from the top somewhere which it's always had
I have the standard guage and sender
4.2 engine
Joe

Hi Joe....standard electrical guage and sender will just give you an indication of pressure...they are often far from acurate.....the only way to tell exact oressure is with a wet guage.....Steve

Yep Steves right - buy a nice glycerine filled gauge and test your actual pressure. The electric gauge is just a voltmeter really - you may have a bad connection.

Barrie

I doubt whether in this particular case it is a result of gauge inaccuracy , as on my mark IX with its Bourdon tube gauge the results are almost identical to yours - when very hot at idle I get 12 lbs/sq.in but it goes straight back up to 40 once off idle, and I have been told not to worry

OK
Thought as much
Thx for replies
I will try a mechanical guage
Do they do a replacement one?
That looks the same?
Joe

Those numbers are fine.