Hello there,

 

My car (89 TT manual) shows worryingly low oil pressure when fully warm.

 

at 3000 revs when fully warm it is indicating about 30 - 35 psi or just over 2 on the scale as my car is a jap import.

 

I know this is far les than it should be.

 

Any suggestions?

 

The car runs fine and the oil level is when it should be. The turbo's are smoking badly though.

 

Cheers.

 

Martin.

The oil pressure senders are notorious for getting clogged and sending a false reading.........I expect it is this.

You could look up how to clean it and see if that improves things.

Cheers for that James.

 

Has anyone else out there had problems with low oil pressure readings? Indeed has anyone else had to have an engine re-built due to piston rings going AWOL?

 

Am I correct is assuming that the oil pressure sensor is just above the oil filter?

 

I notce that the correct oil pressure reading for an import should be between 3.6 and 4.2 on the scale. Are most people outthere getting this sort of reading or is it common for the gauges to under read?

 

Any help or reassuring advice would be much appreciated. I'm getting paranoid about the cost of an engine rebuild !!!!

 

Cheers.

 

Martin.

When you say your turbos are smoking, under what conditions do they smoke?

 

I really wouldn't trust the stock oil pressure guage either - they are nororious for being VERY inaccurate....

Cheers Andy.

 

The turbos smoke badly at idle after about 30 seconds. The car behine me gets covered in white hazy smoke at traffic lights. The smoke has an oily smell to it although it is not blue.

 

I changed the PCV valves and the rear hoses. Will change the front breather hoses before getting the turbos done.

 

The car was de-catted 3000 miles ago and has covered approx. 79K miles. Looks like a classic case of ear seal failure due to de-catting.

 

Just don't want to spend the money on getting the turbos done of the engine is on its way out. The car actaully runs fine and there is no evidence that the engine is about to go bang. Just worried about the low oil pressure reading on the gauge.

 

Cheers again for the advice.

 

Martin.

Martin

 

The engine is probably fine, just fried turbo seals. These engines are good for mega mileage if not totally thrashed and uprated.

 

Where in Edinburgh are you? I'm in Falkirk.

Willie

Corstorphine, West side of the city.

 

Hypertech in Bonnybridge have given me a quote for replacing the tubs. They seem very cheap but I don't think they appreciate the scale of the task.

 

I'll probably go with Calder Motor Company as they seem to have done quite a few turbos on zed300's.

 

Cheers.

 

Martin.

Martin,

 

Unfortunately that looks 100% like turbo rear seal failure. Classic symptoms of the oil getting in the exhaust AFTER the combustion chambers. If you want your turbos replacing properly, you are best removing the engine to do the job - its so tight up there you can't be sure all the oil feeds are secure, bolts are torqued correctly etc etc. While the engine is out, its worth doing other stuff too - I went through this in another thread yesterday lol

 

If you are REALLY worried about the oil pressure, then fit a mechanical one temporarily in the place of the stock sender and re check the readings. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised ;)

 

HTH

 

CheerZ,

 

Andy

FWIW, i had exactly the same paranoia, but when i tried a mechanical guage pressure was spot on!! (Exactly the same happened to a friend too!)

 

Rich

Martin

Check with Dick300 - Colin Dick. He has had a lot of work done at Hypertech so should be able to give a decent reference.

Originally posted by andyduff

Martin,

 

 

If you are REALLY worried about the oil pressure, then fit a mechanical one temporarily in the place of the stock sender and re check the readings. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised ;)

 

HTH

 

CheerZ,

 

Andy

 

Andy,

 

Just got my Z 92 UK TT and noticed that when warm pressure is around the 30, however drove back from Hertford to the Boat meet and noticed it well down around the 5??? ARRG, engine appears fine and pressure miraculusly returned later???

 

I am assuming from reading this thread that its either a clogged sender or I need a mechanical one.

 

Do you know where I can get one and how much?

Are the designed for the Z or do I have to adapt it??

 

Help

 

Thanks

 

GlennC

your sender is screwed, I wouldnt worry about it though the gauges are extremely innacurate anyway.

Low oil pressure, first thing to check would be oil level. Do NOT overfill though!!! The Z engine oil dipstick is notorious though - it can be very difficult to read...

 

ANY aftermarket oil pressure guage will be fine - you'll just need to find an oilway from the pump to attach the new sender to. The Z actually has 2 locations for its stock sender depending on the country it was made for. Most have the sender on the pass side just to the side of the sump, behind the subframe. US models had the sender attached to the filter bracket - you can use this point for an aftermarkety sender. You may need to get the sender re tapped to fit the thread though ;) Of course, you could completely remove the stock sender and use that location instead - although then you'll have a dead guage on your cluster so not 100%. Don't forget with an aftermarket guage you also need to find somewhere in the cockpit to mount it ;)

 

I would first replace the stock sender, then fit an aftermarket OP guage later.... I guess I just hate dead guages on clusters....

 

HTH

 

CheerZ,

 

Andy

Thanx Guys

Info much appreciated, will rest easy change sender and consider fitting another gauge later.

 

Cheers

 

GlennC:D