The 'E' Type Forum

My car has undergone a full restoration but due to the last restorer going into liquidation I transferred the car at short notice to another specialist and they provided an extensive report of items requiring attention prior to completion.

Most of the list consists of incorrect bolts, missing washers, missing parts on carbs etc. Basically everything needs going through prior to the MOT.

The most worrying item however is a report of low oil pressure on a freshly built engine. When warm the engine is down to 10lbs at idle. They also reported some foaming apparent on the dipstick. There is some sign of water leaking overboard as they put it but there is no evidence in the oil of this. This may be down to insufficient torqueing of the head or bedding in as the water level is steady. The car has never been road tested as the front brakes require completing and the servo pipes appear to be around the wrong way sucking in air.

I am going to endeavour to try and find the root of the low pressure and appreciate that at the extreme this may mean the engine coming out.

I am just looking for some help on what I could try first and it what order just in case it turns out to be a simple fix.

Also can anyone advise on an accurate gauge to use during my investigations.

Many thanks
Chris

Hi Chris first do you trust your "new specialist".....are they a well known company to us....are you sure they know what they are doing........first thoughts low oil pressure could just be the oil houseing pressure relief valve not fully closed.....did they check your oil pressure with a wet guage or just the electric guage on the dash (never acurate anyway)..........Steve

I would say that they are recognised and respected which is why I went to them. I only took the car away as there was no knowing what the cost was going to be and it started to scare me considering I have sunk a life changing amount into the car already. I am afraid I have lost trust in the industry as a whole after a 7 year nightmare.

The pressure was tested with a mechanical gauge and they did discuss possibilities such as the oil pressure pickup and a missing or ill fitting o ring. We discussed the pressure relief valve. They did say it is unlikely to be the pump as these are quite robust. They felt it was unlikely to be undersize shells as there would be noise associated. They felt that air was entering the system.

Their next steps would have been sump off and checks and then engine out for a full strip down. This is what scared me. I can understand them not trusting an engine builder they do not know.

Thanks
Chris

Firstly, confirm that the oil pressure gauge is reading correctly. Do this by attaching a mechanical gauge known to be accurate.

If the pressure is indeed low, and you definitely have a freshly built engine, check the oil over pressure valve spring for correct length and tension.

See viewtopic.php?f=3&t=18524 for my thoughts on this.

Thanks Andrew I will have a good read of this.

Thanks
Chris

In addition to what Andrew has said, if a mechanical gauge confirms low pressure, then, given the foaming, I would have the sump off and look for where there might be an air leak on the suction side of the oil pump. The O rings sealing the push in pipe connections are a strong possibility , but check also the oil pump gasket etc

OK definitely looks like sump needs to come off. Lots of threads on sump removal and jacking so will study carefully.

Thanks