Reply To: Oil pressure

I read with interest the various comments about oil pressure. My Light 15 came with a vast quantity of bills that showed in some detail where the money had been spent. When I first drove the car I was aware of a “rumble”from the engine that sounded very much like worn main bearings. I too bought a oil pressure gauge combined with a water temperature gauge.  After fitting this, I discovered that the oil pressure cold was 30 psi falling to about 10 psi hot and 0 psi when idling! I spoke to Mark Harding  of Devon Tractions and he came round, and together we removed the oil pump (in situ!) and tested it with an electric motor. It was fine, 45 psi constantly. We then took the engine out and measured the mains and looked at the original bills that came with the car. It seemed that the big ends had been ground but the mains “polished”. Only problem was that the mains were now under size!

Short version, Mark got the mains ground, we fitted new bearings and con rods and just to be safe, a new oil pump. I now have 50 psi cold, 40 psi hot and 20 psi on idle.

The water temperature gauge has also been very informative. Once the outside temperature is below about 6 degrees C the water temperature hardly moves off the stop. Obviously this is a very bad thing, as this means the oil does not reach any sort of temperature either. I invested in a Jose Franssen radiator grill “muff”. What a great thing this is! It has 4 flaps that can be opened independently to allow air in if required and looks great. Now at 0 degrees C my water temperature is 130 degrees C

My last point is that we should not be afraid to ask professionals for help, and pay for this if needed. Mark Harding really kept me on the right track all the way through this operation, and the years he has been working on these cars has meant that he really knows what does not work! It is so much cheaper to ask people who really know their stuff. I think Mark has stopped now, but there are a few others. we should support them!