Engine without oil pressure?

[Catweazle]

Hello,

there is a problem with the engine of my 1959 Morris I thing. The last four years she was parked in a dry garage. The oil level is right and there was no problem in the past. When I started the engine last month I have noticed, that the oil pressure warning light burns also with running engine. Today I have fitted a new oil pressure switch but without any positive result. The oil pressure indicator lamp is still burning. Are there any ideas about a possible reason? The milage of the is genuine about ca. 27000 miles. I am happy about your information.

Best regards
John

[captain]

Hi john It could be a stuck pressure relief valve worth a check.

[LarryLebel]

If its been sitting for awhile, maybe you need to prime the oil pump.

[minimans]

Hello,

there is a problem with the engine of my 1959 Morris I thing. The last four years she was parked in a dry garage. The oil level is right and there was no problem in the past. When I started the engine last month I have noticed, that the oil pressure warning light burns also with running engine. Today I have fitted a new oil pressure switch but without any positive result. The oil pressure indicator lamp is still burning. Are there any ideas about a possible reason? The milage of the is genuine about ca. 27000 miles. I am happy about your information.

Best regards
John

!st thing to do is fit a mechanical oil pressure gauge to check actual oil pressure. then go from there..............

[surf-blue-850]

If its been sitting for awhile, maybe you need to prime the oil pump.

What Larry says. Take the banjo bolt out of the oil filter pipe and squirt oil into the engine block.

[LarryLebel]

.... rotate the engine backwards (take out plugs, lift 1 wheel, select reverse, hand turn the wheel) while adding the oil, it will get pulled back into the pump.

[Catweazle]

Hello,

unfortunately no success. Additionally I have change the engine oil with correct specification. After that I have driven the about 10 kilometres. There is no engine oil signs on the new oil pressure switch. Is it necessary to open the engine now and is there the possibility that the engine is damaged now? Thank you for you help.

Best regards
John

[minimans]

Hello,

unfortunately no success. Additionally I have change the engine oil with correct specification. After that I have driven the about 10 kilometres. There is no engine oil signs on the new oil pressure switch. Is it necessary to open the engine now and is there the possibility that the engine is damaged now? Thank you for you help.

Best regards
John

I would have thought it must have some oil pressure? you cant drive 10K with no oil pressure and not have it seize or make lots of 'Orrible knocking noise? Did you substitute the oil pressure gauge with a Mechanical type Gauge? you really need to find out exactly what you have or don't have before tearing into the engine! Just remove the oil pressure sending switch and fit the gauge in it's place. use a gauge with a capillary tube not an electrical one and its best to use a gauge that you know works!

[Catweazle]

Hello,

Yes I understand. I will try with a mechanical pressure gauge, but there is no oil coming out from the engine block with not fitted oil pressure switch. Will let you know.

Thank you and best regards
John

[minimans]

Make sure the small hole is clear before screwing in the Gauge, it is possible that the passage way is blocked with debris or carbon.

[ianh1968]

If the lamp is still lit with the wire not even connected to the switch,
it could be that there is a short circuit to earth.

The lamp gets a feed from the ignition circuit and its earth through
the switch. If the wire has chafed, or is pinched somewhere, the
lamp will be permanently lit.

If you can't make the light go out by disconnecting the wire, this will
be your problem.

You could try this:

Remove the switch completely.
Remove the spark plugs.
Stand in front of the engine and watch...
Have an assistant crank the engine over.
Shout "STOP" when/if you see oil coming out of the sender hole.

This will tell you if you have oil at the switch.

Checking for a "clean" switch with it wound in will be inconclusive
as there will be an air bubble right underneath it.

Ian

[Catweazle]

Hello,

There is oil pressure again. The engine runs nice and without any noises. But I am not really sure. Do I have to open and inspect the unit? Wjat is your opinion?
Thank you for your efforts.

Best regards
John

[goff]

Catweazle
As the Americans say if it ain't broke then don't mend it,
Seems like you want to strip it down !!!!!!! , Just go and buy a unit of ebay and strip that one down , Don't mess if its running OK

regards

Goff

[ianh1968]

You really need to do what minimans said, check your engine's
oil pressure with a mechanical/capillary gauge.

On a cold engine, you can get 100 PSI (7 Bar) on the starter
alone. Most engines have the relief valve set much lower than
this, but cold oil at almost 0 RPM does pressurize quite well...

The oil pressure will reduce as the oil temperature goes
up. I have had an engine that gave 75 PSI at idle when cold,
but ZERO on the gauge at idle once the oil was warmed up.
This was because the engine was knackered...

You need to get the oil quite warm. At tickover, this could take
a long time, but driving reasonably briskly will get the oil warmer
much faster.

ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION HERE - YOU DECIDE

The oil pressure switches come on at about 5 PSI which is very
low - and an engine running at 6 PSI will not light the lamp and will
probably not last very long either...

I really hope that your engine is still OK, but it is not realistic to
ask people on the forum what they think unless you have
accurately checked the pressure first and can tell us what you
have. It will not be possible to diagnose anything without some
gauge readings.

The good thing is that there is nothing "audible" and I am
guessing that the engine still "feels" OK.


Ian

[Catweazle]

Hello,

Yes I will check and let you know. Thank you very much for the moment.

Best regards
John

[Spider]

I've seen and had quite a number of bum switches of late, like the rest of the quality electrical parts we seem to get these days. Hella have good ones, but stupid price. As the other guys have said, check with a gauge. If you've drive it 10 km or so, and it returned under it's own steam, then it's got oil pressure.