Oil Pressure

[BillR]

Should I be worried? When the engine is hot the oil pressure reading is between the lowest mark and the red bit (less than 1Bar). Engine is 1.8 K-series 140BHP, 06 reg.

 

[Peter Carmichael]

The majority of "oil pressure problems" can be put down to a broken sender. The other likely causes are...

 

... debris blocking the oil pickup

... pressure relief valve sticking open

 

I presume this low pressure reading is at idle and it picks up to a higher value when you add revs. I would recommend changing the sender and seeing if that fixes it. If there is any other suggestion that the oil pressure *is* very low then I'd pop the sump off and have a look.

[Stationary M25 Traveller]

If it is the sender on the way out, it will probably also start to oscillate when hot/idling, flicking down to zero. All quite alarming to watch.

 

7 related photos

[Sheds Moderator]

My gauge used to wander endlessly, especially at constant speed on Mway. I worried for a bit then decided that as it was steady at idle there couldn't be anything mechanically wrong as it's not physically possible to change an engine's oil pressure that fast.

[wild bill]

Bill

 

Oil pressure threads are endless on here if you search techtalk. My advice FWIW is fit a mechanical guage for peace of mind (all info in FAQ) and forget the caterham sender as it's rubbish

[BillR]

Thanks everybody - I'll stop worrying now.

My last scare about overheating turned out to be a faulty sensor as well.

Maybe I should just cover up all the dials?????

[Tre Zarcoff]

Or fit a mechanical gauge...

 

I like cream...

[Gridgway]

the caterham remote sender kit works as well.

Graham

[John Vine]

the caterham remote sender kit works as well

But doesn't it use the same problematic standard sender unit (or have I missed something)?

 

JV

 

[Casbar]

Mech Gauge

[7 wonders of the world]

Mech gauge, hoce and fittings from Think Automotive is only a couple of quid more than a new CC sender unit only it works

 

Too young to be old !

[patneale]

32,000 miles on 2003 140hp SV and just fitted my 4th replacement sender, last 2 have been on CC as lasted less than year. CC say it is vibration, but not a problem on Rover?MG cars with same engine so I reckon in view of other failures with water sender, fuel guage, rev counter and speedo that is beacause Caerbont Instruments are c--p. Pressure lovely on new sender 6 when cold and 4 + when hot and 2+ on tickover hot. It won't last, all have lost pressure with age !! The moment the gauge gets the waggles it is on its way out.

[Cookie Monster]

I agree with WoftW: Think Automotive. It saved my engine!

It doesnt use the same sender so is reliable & robust & virtually the same price as the rubbish CC item.

 

Phil.

 

Edited by - Cookie Monster on 9 Nov 2007 13:17:29

[CageyH]

The Caterham remote sender kit is supposed to work equally as well.

I just don't know why you need all of those bits shown here?

 

 

 

Only dead fish go with the flow....!

[John Vine]

But as I suggested above, doesn't the CC remote sender kit still use the same unreliable sender?

 

JV

[Roadsport06]

My oil pressure sender has been useless from the start. When oil is hot it only reads just above the red on tick over. This remote system looks like it too has the useless sender so I too will go to the mechanical guage when I have time to fit it.

[CageyH]

Once the sender is moved, it is less prone to damage/water ingress.

Look where it is now, right out in the open.

If you moved it up inside the bonnet area, it will be much better.

Also use a small amount of sealant near the electrical connector to stop water getting in.

 

Only dead fish go with the flow....!

[caterhamnut]

Why does the Caterham kit come with a new filter mount casting? We've just moved ours simply by adding in a bit of pipe...still with same dodgy sender though....

 

www.mycaterham.com

here

Videos

here

101,000 miles car

[CageyH]

I have no idea....

 

Only dead fish go with the flow....!

[Mick Day]

New filter housing is a good idea as it allows for a banjo fixing onto the housing which is neater & keeps the hose out of the way.

 

However when I did mine I used the existing housing, only moving to a new housing when I fitted the Pace dry sump system.

[caterhamnut]

 

www.mycaterham.com

here

Videos

here

101,000 miles car

[Tom White]

I gave up on the Caterham supplied sensors in direct or remote setup (the remote lasted a little longer but not much).

Go for the Think Mech system with oil pressure switch, I decided not to fit the huge red warning lamp which is part of the kit, but fitted a high intensity led between tacho and speedo. You need to bleed the system once but after that, you have a reliable system that warns you of impending doom considerably faster than a damped gauge that you might not be looking at when it happens

 

Tom

[John Vine]

Thanks, Tom. That's exactly what I plan to do too. Did you get the LED from Think? If so, do you have a part no? Or can you suggest an alternative source?

 

JV

[CageyH]

This was discussed recently here.

 

Only dead fish go with the flow....!

[Dazzled]

Can the Think Automotive mech sender be used with the standard Caterham branded OP gauge do you need to change that as well?

 

Dave