Oil pressure sender

[petronic]

I have been told my oil pressure sender is not working correctly and needs replacing, So a little advice - at rest no movement on the gauge. Turn key to next position gauge as engine starts gauge reads 5 bar, Drive car and come to a stop gauge drops to between 2 and 5 bar about middle. Pull away gauge goes up to 5 and steady.

Now I have found the sender and their appears to be a connector tab with nothing connected hard to see much more - should all tabs have something connected to the sender,
Any advice please = Thanks Peter

 

[philw696]

Hi Peter several of us on here have changed ours.
There is only one terminal used I know as I have my project 4200 engine in pieces.
There is a how to on here I know with good pics.
Phil.

 

[Emtee]

If the reading is steady your sender sounds okay to me. At cold startup the pressure should be max'ed at 5 bar dropping to 2.5 at warm idle. Under drive it should increase easily to 5 bar, but hot idling at 2 .0 bar is fine when in start/stop traffic when the oil will get very hot. If the readings are smooth, then that sounds okay. If the needle jumps about and is erratic then it could be a dodgy sender. If the pressure regularly drops to 2.0 or below, check your oil and get a 'manual' pressure test taken before changing the sender.

 

[BennyD]

That just about sums it up. Been there, done that.

 

[CatmanV2]

Indeed. Sounds exactly like mine. Who told you the sender is dodgy?

C

 

[petronic]

A specialist garage in this manufacturer - I appreciate all your advice. I think at this stage I will monitor this again any additional thoughts appreciated peter

 

[Emtee]

What's the mileage of your car Peter? I ask as the risk of oil pump damage increases with mileage and so keeping a close eye on it increases accordingly.

 

[CC4200]

I had a new sender fitted at autoshield but still Occasionally when hot mine drops low at idle and both warning lights come on.
I've Found that taking a dipstick reading sorts it out so in my case it could be just the dipstick seal.
Sometimes stays on 5 at idle.
QP doesn't have a gauge does it ?


Paul

 

[CatmanV2]

Mine drops to about 2 at hot idle. Never had the light come on.
I suspect my engine may run a little hot, I never managed to fix the low speed fan and it hits about 1pm on the temp gauge. Always (so far) comes down again. Been like that since I've owned it, and we had a hot summer last year, so I'm OK with it.

C

 

[Emtee]

IIRC the warning kicks in at 1.5 bar. Nothing to worry about unless it's doing it regularly and in circumstances you wouldn't expect. The grade of oil will have a bearing, as will how you use the car. Drive the kn@ckers of it round a track for an hour and for sure the light will come on, but after that you may have sheared the oil and so it's time to change it. I personally don't rate Helix in this regard and so don't use it, but each to their own.

 

[BennyD]

Miles, for interest, what oil do you use?

 

[CatmanV2]

What do you use Miles? I must confess I've not asked Felice what he puts in it. I trust him implicitly.
I have a liter of Helix in the boot, but that's about it.

C

 

[Emtee]

This is not a recommendation.

I use Valvoline VR1 10W60 fully synthetic race oil.

Do not buy it on line unless from a reputable site. **** knows what you're buying otherwise.

 

[CatmanV2]

This is not a recommendation.

I use Valvoline VR1 10W60 fully synthetic race oil.

Do not buy it on line unless from a reputable site. **** knows what you're buying otherwise.

Fair call, Miles, thanks

C

 

[petronic]

Thanks 2002 spyder 64k very regular oil and filter change. So far no lights at all and I drive the car as s GT with no track days or burning rubber. have other car for that or hire a bespoke car eg off road or rally days. peter

 

[petronic]

Sorry all fans work and shell helix!!!!

 

[StuartW]

If the reading is steady your sender sounds okay to me. At cold startup the pressure should be max'ed at 5 bar dropping to 2.5 at warm idle. Under drive it should increase easily to 5 bar, but hot idling at 2 .0 bar is fine when in start/stop traffic when the oil will get very hot. If the readings are smooth, then that sounds okay.

Mine behaved like this when I first got the car and in my naivety and paranoia about a manual car with possible end float issues, I changed the sender but the new one pretty much does the same thing. I won't be rushing to change mine again!