19 replies to this topic

[minipete]

Hi all,been a really silly chap,gave my mini a really hard thrashing on monday night racing a mates Audi A3.When i got home the oil pressure was very low,20psi.I found out why the following evening,there wasn`t much oil in it.Anyways i`ve topped up the oil and now the pressure is at 40psi on tickover when cold,but the pressure guage is quite eratic.It goes up to 80psi when revved which it didn`t do,have i done some damage to my engine or could the guage be faulty?
I`ve had it before where the needle has stuck when i`ve turned my engine off.Its a revotec guage.

Edited by minipete, 08 April 2009 - 07:15 PM.

[L400RAS]

Hi all,been a really silly chap,gave my mini a really hard thrashing on monday night racing a mates Audi A3.When i got home the oil pressure was very low,20psi.I found out why the following evening,there wasn`t much oil in it.Anyways i`ve topped up the oil and now the pressure is at 40psi on tickover when cold,but the pressure guage is quite eratic.It goes up to 80psi when revved which it didn`t do,have i done some damage to my engine or could the guage be faulty?
I`ve had it before where the needle has stuck when i`ve turned my engine off.Its a revotec guage.

Different gauges, different oil grades and different oil temperatures will give different pressure readings on a gauge.
40 PSI on tickover is still perhaps a little low when cold, mines nearer 60 when cold, 40 when warm. Mine goes up around 90+ when reved gently when cold.

What oil did you top up with - always use 20w50 mineral - not semi or synthetic. I suggest millers or halfords classic oils are good, ot duckhams & unipart. If you used thinner oil, perhaps this is why youve not got as much pressure as me.

Ryan

[minipete]

I use Millers Trans M 20 50 as usual,could the guage be faulty?Or oil pump?

[minipete]

Worst scenario what causes low oil pressure?Its a 1380.

[miniman1969]

running low on oil could have starved main and big end bearings of oil, increasing their clearances and hence reducing oil pressure, the same lack of oil could have damaged the pump

[Guess-Works.com]

sounds like your oil pressure relief valve may be stuck...

It's behind the domed nut on the front of the block, undo, remove spring and you should be able to remove the little thimble valve with your little finger.

If not it's stuck... which will give erratic oil pressure

[Spitz]

sounds like your oil pressure relief valve may be stuck...

It's behind the domed nut on the front of the block, undo, remove spring and you should be able to remove the little thimble valve with your little finger.

If not it's stuck... which will give erratic oil pressure

Somewhat related.....
How is the sleeve for the pressure relief valve removed? Is it pressed in...only to be removed when motor and trans are sperated.
I ask because I have a sneeking suspision that mine is cracked or something.
Thanks

[Guess-Works.com]

As far as I'm aware there isn't a sleeve, it's a machined hole in the block...

[Spitz]

As far as I'm aware there isn't a sleeve, it's a machined hole in the block...

A picture of the sleeve/insert was posted by "Dan" on this thread.
http://www.theminifo...x...t=0&start=0

[Guess-Works.com]

ah ha... so there is... new fact for the day... it intersects the oil feed from the gallery to the main bearing (flywheel end)

but as to the issue, god knows how you'd get it out.. suspect it's pressed in hydraulically therefore going to be nigh on impossible to remove, only suggestion would be to drill a hole down the centre and then tap a thread down the hole and pull it out with some form of puller....

I have a scrap block or two hanging around so may have a play, but finding a tap long enough to get down the hole may be interesting...

Edited by GuessWorks.co.uk, 09 April 2009 - 02:49 PM.

[Spitz]

ah ha... so there is... new fact for the day... it intersects the oil feed from the gallery to the main bearing (flywheel end)

but as to the issue, god knows how you'd get it out.. suspect it's pressed in hydraulically therefore going to be nigh on impossible to remove, only suggestion would be to drill a hole down the centre and then tap a thread down the hole and pull it out with some form of puller....

I have a scrap block or two hanging around so may have a play, but finding a tap long enough to get down the hole may be interesting...

Would be great to know what you discover!

[minipete]

Thanks for that lads,it could be the oil pressure relief i hope!The engine is coming out do to a couple of oil leak issues namely behind clutch and timing case,so i will have a look,my mate has lent me a guage so i will see what that say`s.

[Nightrain]

Spitz I take it yours is A series, later on with the A+ engines they don't have the seat fitted, there just machined cost cutting by rover.

Pete ask stu told him where the relief valve is.

[Spitz]

Spitz I take it yours is A series, later on with the A+ engines they don't have the seat fitted, there just machined cost cutting by rover.

Pete ask stu told him where the relief valve is.

Yes...A series...circa 1969 or so, non S

[minipete]

Thanks Nightrain,i know where the relief valve is.
Been out and tried it tonite ran it for a while on held a nice steady 65psi on tickover.
Thanks again for the help.
Pete,