Oil pressure

You're right David, I just took a look at my car owners manual (i.e. the congratulations on buying this car manual lol) and the amber light is for the oil filter change and not the oil pressure.

-Andrew

Got the Unipart filter today and have compared it to the Fram 966b, which I've now removed.. not sure how the cheap one I tested the other day looks compared to the Unipart though, as it's on the car and I didn't investigate the internals of it..

Well, the internals of the Fram and Unipart are in deed different, and to my eyes and possibly common sense, it sure LOOKS as if the Unipart one will provide far better flow. The most obvious is you can see right on to the paper (or whatever it is) element on the Unipart one, through the six holes. These holes are where oil gets in to the filter I think.. The Fram has kind of a metal ring here, and you can't see the element itself through the six holes.

Second, the gauze/ screen(?) holes on the Unipart are larger, as you can see when looking through the large hole.. See photos below.

Well, the difference between the two is so evident, I've decided I'll try a flush, drain, filter and oil change first before attempting a blow out of oil lines. Perhaps the Unipart filter will change the odd symptoms. Strangely, the ph966 b filter has always been listed for B series with hanging spin on filters. perhaps the filter design has been changed over the years?

Regards, Tommy

Looks like i've solved it, it took more than a filter change though..

I was quite amazed to see the last oil filter I put on looked exactly like the Unipart one inside. So it was back to square one again as I now doubted the filter..

I ran some engine flush into the car while idling, drained the oil. noticed some black sludge around the rockers afterwards. Drained coolant from the block and removed the rocker assembly. Blew compressed air down from the cylinder head, and up from the filter head. I could barely feel any air coming out the other way when blowing. Not sure if one is able to, tried on a spare block to compare.

Put on another rocker shaft which I've cleaned and blown air through numerous times. It will spray the penetrating oil meters in the air from all rocker holes when blowing through the oil feed, so supposed ok.

Put it all back together with fresh oil and Unipart filter. Primed the oilways. Removed and blocked the pcv valve as it has let lots of oil through. Oil fumes now go to carb, as on later cars.

After driving a while the oil pressure now stays at 38-40 psi at idle and rises and falls smoothly. I'm very happy with that. The car also idles more smoothly, and performs better on the road. Another enormous improvement is the total lack of smoke coming from the exhaust when idling and there's no smell from it.

So, what made the difference? No idea:-) I wonder if the PCV valve has played up, giving some sort of an air leak and causing the smoke at idle, but can hardly believe it will affect oil pressure..

Have put the studded tyres on, so will use it on dry days without salted roads.

BTW, anyone know the thread size for the PCV valve to maifold pipe? Now the valve is gone, I'll put a take off for the vacuum gauge there. I thought it was 3/8, but it seems to be slightly less. I'm not at all into inches, well... that is we use cm here:-)Another gauge, another thread:-) Hope not:-)

Regards, Tommy

Tommy this sounds very strange. How could there be sludge in the rockers after such a short time assuming all was clean when put together? Possibly an oil filter not working and the oil going through the bypass, I don't know - perhaps the oil filter was the primary cause of the odd oil pressure readings. Maybe worth having a look at the oil strainer sometime to see if there is a build up of sludge in the sump that needs to be cleaned out.

When you used the PCV were you using a later carb with the inlet for the pipe that feeds direct from the later tappet cover with an internal mesh filter? If so I assume you blocked the inlet. Certainly if the PCV was failing it could account for oil being sucked into the inlet manifold. It would also account for the smoke from the exhaust and your oiled plug(s). Like you I don't see it could affect oil pressure though.

It sounds as though another flush would be a good investment fairly soon.

Regards

David

Tommy

This John Twist video explains clearly the oil flow from the pump to the release valve, filter bearings and finally the rocker feed. It demonstrates why you would need to rotate the engine to blast compressed air down from the head successfully.



Glad to gear all is well - we 'll wait for the next brain teaser

So what did you conclude - a blockage in an oil way or was it the filter?

regards

David