Busy weekend, breakdown, recovery and oil light

[Faceplant]

hi again,

its been a fun packed weekend! driving home from tesco and i experienced a big thud while changing gears, pedal went loose and floppy, time to call for relay! (girlfriend not happy, why did i buy old car...? ) Inital tougth was the clutch cable, however further inspection showed the bolt holding the cable to the top of the pedal had sheared.

Managed to get another bolt and fit without too much trouble, next problem....

i took the car for a test drive and found the oli light is staying on, i checked the wire to the oli sender and was ok, i thougth that i might have disturbed something in the fuse box, but the oil light doesnt run through the fuse box.

engine runs ok and i have been checking oil level regularly and topping up. light flickers off when i rev to 5k.

any suggestions?

[bmcecosse]

Oh dear - urgent installation of a proper oil pressure gauge I think. Better hope it's a failed oil pressure switch - you could try changing it.

[Faceplant]

i have been waiting for someone to send me a T piece adapter for my oil pressure gauge thats already installed.

i'm wondering if the broken bolt that holds the clutch cable had something to do with it, it wend while i was going some and changing gear, would a jolt or high revs cause low oil pressure? from what i understand worn bearings on the crankshaft reduces oil pressure, so i engine damage occured its an expensive bottom end rebuild?

i'm gone poodle to work (4miles) and see if i can get the garage next door to have a look.

finger, and toes crossed!!!

[mike.perry]

If you have a gauge fitted can you swap the oil pressure sensor for the oil feed pipe?

[Faceplant]

when i say fitted, thats a loose term!

the previous owner fitted an oil pressure gauge, but never hooked it up. I have found someone who can send me a T piece adapter but its yet to arrive! currently trying to get a mechanic to test the pressure for me.

[Faceplant]

Tonight i'm picking up a oil pressure sensor and a replacement length of fuel line as its leaking between the carbs.

Had a mechanic look at it and he didnt think there was anthing wrong with the engine and to replace sendor first. Hope that fixes it!

[bmcecosse]

Hope so - worn bearings would be rattling horribly. Another positive is that even a v badly worn engine can put the oil light out with cold oil - the light only coming on as the oil heats up and thins out. Of course - it could be serious problem such as failed oil pump/stuck open relief valve - in which case running with v low oil pressure will seriously damage the engine. Oil pressure gauge is THE most imprtant thing on any engine. As suggested earlier - swap the oil pressure gauge connection over into the hole for the sender, and see what you actually have.

[Faceplant]

Thanks for the pointer

i have fitted a new oil pressure sensor and its still showing a green light while running.

also while fitting the new fuel line i broke off the fuel union on the carb, so something else to fix! Straight forward enough, just a pain.

I'm trying to listen for noises comming from the engine, and its a little noisy about 2500 rpm, though its far from a horrible noise.

i'm not going to run it at the moment, untill i know whats going on. I called the guy who was supposed to send the T piece adapter to run the oil pressure gauge last week, not sure when/if its gona come.

Is there another way to measure oil pressure?

[Faceplant]

If you have a gauge fitted can you swap the oil pressure sensor for the oil feed pipe?

cant do that, gauge is in the dash, i dont have the T piece adapter or the line that screws into tha back of the gauge,

pic of gauge[frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

[MarkyB]

If the wire for the blocked filter warning was plugged onto the oil pressure switch would the light stay on?

[Faceplant]

not sure what you mean mark,

[Jefftav]

From memory you have the Fiat Twin Cam engine so you might not have a filter blocked warniing light? If you oil pressure light is still on after replacing the sender you really need to investigate further and do it sooner rather than later. There might be a way of temporarily plumbing the guage by taking out the oil pressure switch so that you can get an idea of what your oil pressure is. I think kit car suppliers sell the small bore pipe you need for the guage or halford might do it. You say a bolt broke off the clutch pedal this could have caused your problem have another look under the car and if you can it safely then have the engine warm and running as then the oil should be under pressure and any leaks more obvious.

Also do you know when the oil & filter were last changed and is the light you say is oil pressure definetly for oil pressure as it maybe for something else if the car's been modified?

[Faceplant]

Thats right its the Fiat twin cam, which had a bottom end rebuild, and top prepped by guy croft. Its definatly the oil pressure switch, and under low revs the engine sounds a bit like a diesel so something more serious might be afoot!

The car is rested now untill i can get a true reading of the current pressure

Its had regular oil and filter changes, i've only had the car 2 months so i havent done one yet, was planning on doing over easter which will be roughly 5000 after the last change.

I have checked with the guy i bought the car from, he confirmed the oil pressure switch was running through the green light on the dash. I'm goinig to run a makeshift circut between the oil sender and battery to make sure it not a wiring issue. After that i think its off to a garage.

[bmcecosse]

You MUST measure the oil pressure - just a simple pipe from hole in block to gauge - even if you take the gauge out and just have it in the engine bay. Any of the Mini suppliers will have the pipe - perhaps even Hellfrauds - although they 'never' have anything when I need it. Don't run the engine until you KNOW the oil pressure. Take the spark plugs out and wind it up on the starter to measure the pessure. Unfortunately it does appear that something is seriously wrong, and I fear the running it has had will have done some serious damage - you don't want it to seize up completely and put a rod out the side.

[Faceplant]

feeling a little out of my depth on this, and not having all the tools/parts is annoying me! will have a big xmas pressy list this year!

Someone recommended me to a guy in Ongar (Essex) who repairs classics, he has a westfield with a TC and a 131 sport. He's comming over saturday to have a look.

will report back with update

Thanks for everyones help..........

[Jefftav]

Faceplant this sounds like a good move if you are not sure what to do yourself. It might be worth asking the mechanic to bring an oil pressure guage so you can get an accurate diagnoses. Let us know how it goes.

[Faceplant]

I told the guy what was up and he's bringing a gauge.

i'm confortable servicing and maintaining but my tools and experience with engines is limited. will have to reach for the walltet this time

will report back with the good news

[BigDawgV8]

Hi,
Out of interest, whereabouts are you?

Cheers

Martin

[Faceplant]

I'm in Woodford Green, Essex.

[Faceplant]

ok, had the guy come over and he is 95% sure the oil pump has failed in some way, untill its open we wont know exactly why, could be a couple of reasons.

car is going in friday to be looked at on the ramps and should be back the following week.

shouldnt be too bad on the wallet either!