Oil pressure.

[Mike_H]

Hi ,
My oil sump and front suspension underframe have taken a big impact. The front part of the sump has been pushed up by about 40/50 mm and I am sure it must have damaged the oil pick up pipe . When I start the engine I now get a reading of 7.0 bar on the gauge at idle . According to the manual it should read greater than .35 bar at idle and then between 1.4 and 7.0 bar during normal driving . Does anyone have any idea what could have happened to the oil pressure ? I would have thought that if the pick up pipe was damaged then it would restrict the pressure and give a lower reading ? Also if the oil pickup pipe needs replacing does anyone know where I could locate one ?

Thanks Mike.

[muley]

Mike,

This is an exceptional situation... I would think if the pipe was damaged the pump would have to work harder to draw the oil in, so maybe the pressure would go up. Best thing is to whip the sump off and have a look see. Not sure where you can get the pick up pipe from - if you need one shipped from the UK I am happy to help.

Hope you are settling in OK.

Jim B

p.s. didn't hit a sheep, did you?

[Mike_H]

hi Jim,
we have settled in just fine , what a fantastic place to live . I wish we had made the move years ago.

This is really a strange one I know , you would think that a damaged pick up pipe would restrict the oil flow ? The car is going into a local garage in a few weeks to have the sump and chassis underframe replaced so I will check on the condition of the pick up pipe then .

This damage to the sump , chassis and some bodywork was all done sometime between the car leaving our house in the UK and arriving here in Christchurch. I havn't even had it on the road yet ! Thankfully it is all insured with the relocation company so it should all be sorted soon .



Mike.

[cjay]

Hi Mike

Welcome to the southern hemisphere NZ is a great place, some fantastic roads as well, shame about the kiwis accents

Sorry to hear about the damage to your Elan. Please post if the damage is stuffing up the oil pressure. My Elans sump has taken a big hit as well but it does not leak so I have left it alone. It does have strange oil pressure at times and rattles at start up occasionally.

Hope you get it sorted and back on the road soon.

cjay.

[Mike_H]

Hi cjay , NZ is a great place , it's 10.00am and its 15 degs in the shade and this is winter
Shame about the accents but what about the standard of driving over here ha ha don't get me going on that one

Could anyone let me know what their oil pressure reads when starting from cold , I can't remember what mine used to read and 7.0 bar just seems too high

Mike.

[muley]

Mike,

Mine's a tad over 5 bar on start up, cold at around 1500 rpm.

Cheers

Jim B

[Doc Fizzix]

I would think that when you start up you should be around 5 bar, what is the weight of your oil you are using?

[Mike_H]

Thanks guys , the oil is Mobil 1 0w-40 fully synthetic .

Mike.

[Dico]

Hi Mike,
Not sure if you received my IM with details after my tatton park visit? Some get through and some dont
By the way, I'm using the same oil as you.

Cjay, dont worry to much about the cold rattle start up. A lot of elans seem to do it.

[Mike_H]

Hi Guys,
I have just fitted a new oil sump and filled it with mobil 1 5W 50. The oil pressure now reads 5 bar when cold then goes down to normal when the engine is hot.

I think that the sump was pushed up so much it was right up to the pick up pipe even though it wasn't damaged it must have restricted the oil flow

But why this gave a higher reading than a lower reading I am not sure .

Anyway problem solved , just got to get it registered now and I'm off
It's now a year since I last drove it !!

Mike.

[chris.t]

from my recollection depending on the pump flow/pressure characteristics high pressure would indicate low flow and low flow would indicate a blockage of some kind.

[muley]

Mike,

Pleased to hear it's OK. Enjoy the summer!

Jim

[Mike_H]

here is a picture of the finshed work . It looks too good to take it for a drive and get it dirty

[Doug]

Good job -- Nice looking Prongeron and Downpipe too !!

[Enright]

here is a picture of the finshed work . It looks too good to take it for a drive and get it dirty

So does the rest of the car! No British ones look like that - especially not at THIS time of year.

[Monty]

Holly cow looks like it just came out of the factory


Good work

[Dico]

It was British,up untill a few months ago

Nice Mike