Oil pressure

[daverey]

I have a problem with my oil pressure one minute it is between 45 and 60 and then it will drop to virtually zero even on tick over, read elsewhere it may be the oil pressure sensor. Any ideas?

[banned advertiser]

Oil senders are notorious for failing or giving bad readings, check wiring or change sender

[robedwards99]

Mine is all over the place too. I\'ve been told to not worry about it so I don\'t!

As long as it feels ok then nothing to worry about.

Mine tends to be on zero always on tickover and goes up when I boost generally. I try not to worry but I do wonder!

[David Nock (RIP)]

Wait a minute here. As far as I know, the 1st generation oil pressure system and guage and sensor is reliable. All 3 I\'ve ever had have been spot on. Present car gets 80psi or so at speed (my sort of speed = 75), drops to 50psi or so at tick over. All readings hot.
I would check the sensor and wiring if you\'re sure the mechanics are all right.
I would not think the dash guage will be at fault. I once had a tiny bit of grit in the sensor which brought up the oil light (1966 in my old Ford Consul!)

[MikeLMR]

what oil are you using ? when I first got my first gen the guy was using very thin modern oil as thats what the local garage had put in it, I didn\'t have chance to  notice any oil pressure fluctuations as I changed it straight away for some heavier grade mineral oil

[daverey]

Oil senders are notorious for failing or giving bad readings, check wiring or change sender

Gary
 thanks for the info, would you have one available? if so can you PM me with the price etc.

 Mike
 the oil I am using is Castrol GTX, never had this problem before.

[mr.bishi]

Is there a convenient take off spot on the 12a engine for an oil pressure gauge for those of us who don\'t have one?

TIA

[MikeLMR]

the standard one taps into the block under the oil filter, you may have one in the block but it\'s blanked off?  all the later cars had one.

[daverey]

Problem seems to be sorted, was a loose connection and corrosion in the connector to the oil sensor. A quick rub with some emery cloth to clean the green gunge and the end of a cable tie jammed between the contact and the plastic cover, just need to drive it for a while to make sure. Any ideas where I can get a new connector as it seems a bit heath robinson as it is.

  Dave

[mr.bishi]

the standard one taps into the block under the oil filter, you may have one in the block but it\'s blanked off?  all the later cars had one.

Yep,there it is!

Thanks :cheers

[David Nock (RIP)]

Problem seems to be sorted, was a loose connection and corrosion in the connector to the oil sensor. A quick rub with some emery cloth to clean the green gunge and the end of a cable tie jammed between the contact and the plastic cover, just need to drive it for a while to make sure. Any ideas where I can get a new connector as it seems a bit heath robinson as it is.

  Dave

Looks like a standard red (1.5mm) insulated bullet connector will do the job. Get a selection from Halfords or similar and crimp the connector onto the wire end. Use pliers if you\'ve no crimp tool. Alternativly any wreckers will be snided out with old wiring looms with bullet connectors on. Here you\'re going to have to solder the bullet onto the wire because it\'ll be already crimped up.

[daverey]

David
 the connector on mine is not a bullet connector, but it looks like a blade connector, but it has a slot on one side of the insulator which slides over a  T section at the top of the sender. I was reminded of a motor electrician I know so hopefully he will have something.
  Dave