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Rapid oil pressure drop

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R

rusty55

Jedi Hopeful
Offline
Well, we've put about 100 miles on the TR3 this weekend. Today the oil pressure gauge suddenly dropped to almost nothing.
Car runs great, plenty of oil, but the gauge pressure only increases when I'm on the gas.
Ideas??? Gauge was just rebuilt BTW.
 
First thing I would look for is some way to double-check the gauge, freshly rebuilt or not. The line to the gauge might be clogged, too (especially the flexible section near the firewall).

Next thought would be a problem with the pressure relief valve in the oil filter head.

Then I'd probably drop the pan, and check out the oil pump. Last time it happened to me, the oil pump had sucked a bit of swarf through a tear in the screen, and sheared off the tang on the oil pump driveshaft. There have also been some replacement pumps that come apart internally.
 
Thanks. All that will happen tomorrow. I'll update.
 
fyi only, if you find you have a pump problem, Steve Yott is back making uprated pumps. Bullet-proof.
 
Hi Frank-

His contact info is in this writeup about the pump from the Illinois club:
ISOA pump writeup

Haven't met him in person, but he's easy to deal with via phone/email.

Randy
 
hondo402000 said:
that was a good article, does he make them for TR6's

Hondo
Click to expand...

I don't think so, but Steve is a good guy and fun to talk with so I'm sure he'd let you know if he is. I know he upgrades gearbox countershafts too, and those for sure work for TR6's.
 
Well, it was the gauge. All the gauges were rebuilt and this is the 2nd one that hasn't worked in the 1st 100 miles of use :madder:
We hooked up a temporary and all is good.
Thanks for the helpful hints
 

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one more from the interior
 

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Rusty, West Valley Instruments is close to you in the Valley; (as long as they didn't originally rebuild the gauge).
 
mrv8q said:
Rusty, West Valley Instruments is close to you in the Valley; (as long as they didn't originally rebuild the gauge).
Click to expand...
Thanks. They did not do the original rebuild. They are much closer than the other. I'll give them a call.
 
I took the gauge to West Valley. The gentleman was very helpful and tested the gauge while I watched. He found the gauge to be functional but not properly calibrated and the insides were loose. It's only off by about 5lbs which isn't much. I brought the gauge home, blew out the line with compressed air and reinstalled it. It seemed to be functioning properly on my short road test. So not sure whats up. Maybe debris in the line. We'll see. I'll be watching it closely over the next few days. :cooler:
 
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