K Series Oil Starvation

[Skorn]

I took my car out for a blat the other day, and noticed that I was losing quite a lot of oil pressure in corners.  I have read all the information about the foam and potential sump gasket modification for the K series, but was wondering how dangerous this was for my engine.  Most of the advice seems to state that it only really affects cars on track running slicks, but on 10 year old A021R's (replacement tyres on order) I managed to get below 30psi twice on two separate left hand corners (oil warning light on the mechanical oil pressure gauge came on).

 

I thought maybe the oil was a bit low, and I tried to read the level (engine running, hot) and I couldn't see a defined line on the dip stick, though when I blotted it against some paper the whole thing had oil on it.  The car is quite new to me, so short of getting a dry sump system, is there any advice as to how bad this is for road driving?  I certainly won't be taking the car on track until I've sorted it.

[TomB]

If the foam is crumbling with age, it will be clogging your oil pick up in the sump, reducing oil take and lowering pressure.  I wouldnt drive it until you've checked it out.  If you handy with the spanners its easy to take the sump off from below the car - just a number of 5mm and a couple of larger (8mm?) caphead bolts on my car.  

If in any doubt that enough oil is getting to the bearings, I wouldnt run it until youve checked it out.  
 

[Skorn]

It runs fine in all other situations, even under hard acceleration and braking, and sits rock solid at 55-60 psi.  It's only when cornering hard that it fluctuates.

[Graham King]

Skorn, when cornering hard the oil in the sump moves away from the pickup in left hand corners, the hotter the oil gets the more likely it is to happen. 

Personally if it's only dropping down to ~30PSI then I wouldn't worry. The sump gasket mod is easy and worthwhile doing as it could help alleviate the symptoms. 

Graham. 

[Ivaan]

I'd look at fitting an Apollo pretty soon. I wiped the bearings in my K series car with road use only before fitting one.

[Graham King]

Btw, would agree with Ivaan that fitting an Apollo is worthwhile, but I had an apollo and it still happens, it's just the design of the engine that makes it so, there are things you can do to help but you can't eradicate it.

[Skorn]

Oh I should have mentioned I already have an apollo fitted, but the problem still happens.  It's a Dave Andrews modified 1.8 with over 30,000 miles on it.

[oilyhands]

An Apollo mitigates against the effects of oil surge, although the pressure drops, oil is still delivered to the bearings, if only by gravity, without an Apollo the bearings can be starved of oil. It takes some time for the Apollo to completely empty itself when delivery from the pump fluctuates , in my experience, most engines without Apollos show signs of stress on the bearings and most with Apollos do not.

Oily

[Skorn]

Well that's reassuring to know, thank you very much! 

[Jonathan Kay]

"If the foam is crumbling with age, it will be clogging your oil pick up in the sump, reducing oil take and lowering pressure.  I wouldnt drive it until you've checked it out.  If you handy with the spanners its easy to take the sump off from below the car - just a number of 5mm and a couple of larger (8mm?) caphead bolts on my car.  

If in any doubt that enough oil is getting to the bearings, I wouldnt run it until youve checked it out."

Mine needed a rebuild because I didn't do this.

Jonathan

[Wrightpayne]

I think the pressure observation is worth exploring more. When was the oil changed last - K with apollo is 7.5L?

I'd take the sump off and have a look while the oil is drained. Gasket is often reuseable and easy to add the drainage holes.

 

[Skorn]

It was serviced about a month ago by GP Sevens prior to my ownership so the oil should be good. 

[john milner]

If the sump is coming off anyway and the foam is being ditched definitely drill the gasket holes. It won't make a noticeable difference but every little helps and is easy to do when the gasket is off.

Other alternatives to add to the list are Accusump or a secondhand only Helier sump baffle. I fitted the Helier baffle over ten years ago. It is basically a small aluminium box with some one way flaps that is supposed to encourage an oil pool in the pickup area. It probably helps drivers like me but from what I have read does next to nothing for aggressive driving.