Tim and Dot Posted May 21, 2013 Share Posted May 21, 2013 I have a 1996 Roadsport with a k series supersport engine. I have changed the oil using Mobil 3000, 15w 30 fully synthetic, filter and foam sump insert. When the car is running hot the oil pressure drops to very near the red mark on the gauge on tick over then moves to around 2 bar when running at normal road driving is this ok ? Im driving to Italy this summer and it worries me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted May 21, 2013 Share Posted May 21, 2013 15w-30 doesn't sound right for a k-series. I have always used 5w-50 ....... thinner on start up and thicker when hot I ditched the foam long ago. Also changed electrical sender/gauge for mechanical gauge .... reliable readings you can trust. Done a big hot trip to SW France and Andorra in 36C shade temperatures .... no issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadsport06 Posted May 21, 2013 Share Posted May 21, 2013 You oil is a little thin, a 0w40 would be better, or the 5w50 Motorsport oil if you are going in hot conditions. Tick over 20 psi when hot and full beans about 55psi. Read about the senders, they are rubbish so go for a mechanical gauge for peace of mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim and Dot Posted May 21, 2013 Author Share Posted May 21, 2013 Just checked my oil is 5 w 30. do you think I should change it for 5w50 then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweeky Posted May 21, 2013 Share Posted May 21, 2013 Go for the mechanical gauge too, as it has been said the caterham set up isnt great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted May 21, 2013 Share Posted May 21, 2013 5w-50 is better for a hot engine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myothercarsa2cv Posted May 21, 2013 Share Posted May 21, 2013 It's probably fine and the sender is faulty, but don't risk it. Use the right oil, ditch the foam, and fit the mechanical oil sender. Do the gasket mod at the same time too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willmac Posted May 21, 2013 Share Posted May 21, 2013 I've got a brand new mechanical gauge set up supplied by "THINK", still in the box and complete with a smaller LED warning light I purchased separately ( also have the big red light warning light ) that I will be selling if you are interested ? BM me if you need further details. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob L Posted May 22, 2013 Share Posted May 22, 2013 Ditto on 5w-50 fully synthetic and also gone mechanical after everyone else’s comments 😶🌫️ Near full screen deflection and less damping gives much better peace of mind, an inexpensive and simple mod for a damp w/e morning. Probably one of the best upgrades I made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the.vet Posted May 22, 2013 Share Posted May 22, 2013 I've got an 1800 k that is similar but running 5w50. Shows very low on the gauge at hot idle, cold start it's up at 4. Full beans it sits at 2 or so. Assumed this was normal as I've hired a couple that have been the same !?! Graeme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Lef Posted May 22, 2013 Share Posted May 22, 2013 I've got an 1800 k that is similar but running 5w50. Shows very low on the gauge at hot idle, cold start it's up at 4. Full beans it sits at 2 or so. Assumed this was normal as I've hired a couple that have been the same !?! Same setup here but mine reads 6+ on warm up and then settles to 4 and just under. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted May 22, 2013 Share Posted May 22, 2013 Hot idle should be above 1 bar (15psi) .... 1.5 bar (22psi) is good. Cold start expect up to 5 bar (75 psi) Hot engine and high revs 4 bar (60 psi) Don't trust an OE electrical gauge Changing to a mechanical gauge costs around the same as one new electrical sender ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fil M Posted May 22, 2013 Share Posted May 22, 2013 My oil guage (Caterham sender unit) was reading low so on service I got another one to see how long it will last (go mechanical next time maybe) ..it sounds like your sender unit is showing classic signs of giving up. The water temp senders are even worse!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Ford Posted May 22, 2013 Share Posted May 22, 2013 Why on earth did you put 15w 30 in it? That must have cost a lot of money, yet it's totally wrong for the engine - too thick when cold and too thin when hot. Don't necessarily believe the "ditch the foam" brigade. Most of the race engine builders don't subscribe to that theory. I know Dave Andrews is vehemently against it, but other aren't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnv Posted May 22, 2013 Share Posted May 22, 2013 my electrical sender (in the stack dash) now reads 29psi hot, high revs, my mechanical one reads 65psi! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finmac Posted May 22, 2013 Share Posted May 22, 2013 Wilmac - YHM cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anton Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 LE0 is an 1800K and I've had to change the sender at least once a year! Redline will be changing the gauge for a mechanical one very shortly. I have always used Comma Syner Z 5W-30 oil (this is for a heavily used 03 car with 102,320 miles on it) But when it was working, the gauge showed 5-6 bar cold, 3.5 hot at 40mph and just above the red when idling hot. At 70 mph hot it registered about 4-4.5 bar. It will be interesting to see what the mechanical gauge says. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim and Dot Posted May 23, 2013 Author Share Posted May 23, 2013 Thanks for all your comments, I have now changed my oil for 5w 50 however the low tick over pressure when hot still persists. Just hovers on the edge of the red on the gauge. I have also noticed the needle is jumping about. So where do I get a mechanical gauge? do I need a different sender unit too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 No sender ... just an adaptor to connect a small capillary tube in place of the sender. Terry Higginson supplies the gauge kit and adaptor ... but he was struggling to get new stock recently. Will ask him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadsport06 Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 Good evening, Willmac has written he has a MOPG for sale. Think automotive will supply all. Call them, tell them what you want here. Plenty on here so do a search. Easy to fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_village_idiot Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 I know caterham reccommend 10/15-50 but I wonder is this really necessary? You can get better cold start protection with a 5-40. If you have an oil cooler the oil will never get too thin. On cold evenings my oil cooler and radiator are too good- I have to occlude part of each radiator with duct tape to get the water and oil at optimum temp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Back2a7in0xfordshire Posted May 24, 2013 Share Posted May 24, 2013 My SLR starts up at just above 4, then when its hot sits between 2 and 4. And blasting depends on temperature but around 4, higher when a bit cold, lower when hot. I was a little concerned that it sat at 2 when hot - but clearly this is common Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Ford Posted May 24, 2013 Share Posted May 24, 2013 Quoting the_village_idiot: I know caterham reccommend 10/15-50 They recommend 5w 50, don't they? Same cold start performance as 5w 40, but thicker at high temperature. The "it'll never get to high temperature so there's no point in using it" argument is interesting, but not one I'd really go for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mav Posted May 24, 2013 Share Posted May 24, 2013 Yes Roger, 5w/50 not a 10 or 15w/50 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birkin S3 ZA. Posted May 24, 2013 Share Posted May 24, 2013 A bit of information a bit of topic but interesting I hope. I have noticed over the past 6/8 years or so the off road bikes have been recommending thinner oils,from 15/50 to 5/40 and now 5/30 in winter 0/20. Most of it is for better cooling in the oil system as it flows faster and removes the heat from the hotter areas. All the new four strokes run up to 11000 to 12000rpm and never seem to have lubrication problems, the oil will run hot but never a problem now. About 10 years ago I have seen oil run hot enough to melt the solder on ignition coils that run in oil, it even happened to me twice whilst racing when we used 15/50 oil. My Zetec is filled with Castrol 5W/40 Synthetic oil and works very well, one day I will try some of the 10W/50 Castrol bike racing oil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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