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TR2/3/3A normal oil pressure in TR3

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badornato

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i have a rebuilt TR3 engine (Boffo motors in Pennsylvania).
the oil pressure guage indicates 40 psi at 800rpm idle and when cold
and at 2800 rpm goes up to 80 psi.
usually around 70-75 when warm and at 2000-3000 rpm

the fact that the pressure is 40 at idle seems too good and the pressure of 80 makes me a little nervous

what are the chances that the guage is reading too high?

should i just ignore it or is it worth getting a calibrated guage?

bruce adornato
menlo park ca
 
There are lots of variables, oil temperature, idle speed, oil type and viscosity, to name a few but in my opinion, what you've reported is about what I would expect from a newly rebuilt engine.
Tom
 
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Doesn't seem worth worrying about to me either.
 
I wouldn't worry too much either, but it would be easy enough to go down a grade or two in oil viscosity. Valvoline makes a VR1 in 10w-30 for example, and see where it lands you.

I used to think the higher the viscosity the better, but the fact that modern engines seem to run practically forever on 0w-20 and such has gotten me to change my thinking a little. Not suggesting you run that stuff in your Triumph, but if most wear does in fact occur at start up it makes sense that a thinner oil would flow a little quicker to all bearing surfaces.

PS. My TRactor engine TR4a would hit similar numbers or higher on start up, especially in the winter, it takes longer for the oil to heat up in these motors than the coolant. The coolant will get up to operating temperature relatively quickly, the 7 quarts or whatever of oil in the big sump much more slowly. Is your pressure still that higher after a 20-30 minute drive on a warm day?
 
it usually runs 70 -75 even after warmup.. it never goes below 40psi..
that makes me wonder if the guage is running high.
i think i wont lose any sleep over it and just run with it.. it has been that way for years without a drop of leaking oil
 
Sounds normal for a fresh engine. The gauge might read just a bit high, or the relief valve be just a bit high, but none of those values are at all unreasonable.

Low pressure at hot idle is a prime indication that it's getting to be time for new bearings. So 40 psi is a good thing!
 
I have a TR3A. Fairly newly rebuilt (maybe 5K miles at most). I always had good oil pressure, 30 on idle and up to 80, esp. when cold. When I switched to Valvoline 20-50 racing oil with the high zinc, the oil pressure shot up when running at normal temp. I now run at 80 PSI at 3,000 rpm on the highway. So your reported oil pressure sounds pretty similar to mine. And you don't leak oil? I'd just drive it and celebrate every moment!

Pat
 
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