XK-E 3.8L Oil Pressure

[TroyThunder]

A Jaguar mechanic friend of mine tells me that when I see unusually low (or zero) oil pressure on my oil pressure gauge, I shouldn't worry about it ... because the oil pump and circulation system is bulletproof. (XK-E 3.8L)

A pertinent aside: I'm also a small-plane pilot. When flying a piston-engine airplane over water, there is a region called the "wet footprint." The wet footprint is that section of your overwater flight in which, if your engine fails, you will be making a water landing because your glide ratio will not get you back to dry land. Particularly in aircraft with fixed landing gear, I equate the term "water landing" with "crashing" and quite possibly "dying." So ... a funny thing happens when you are flying with a wet footprint. You hear, very acutely, the slightest little sputter, hiccup, or misbehavior that your reciprocating engine makes. The reality is that the engine always sounds like it is misbehaving ... just a little. It is the wet footprint that makes your sensitivities go berzerk.

When I have my XK-E 3.8L running at cruising RPM and I see my oil pressure at ~5psi (or less) ... I would swear that I can hear rod-knock, valve stem chatter, et al. But I recall my mechanic's voice saying "don't sweat it" ... so I soldier on,
with wet-footprint-like anxiety. It is most unsettling. (I know what y'all are thinkng. "He's the mechanic, so he wins when I lose." But no, I don't think so. I know him well. He just isn't that type of guy.)

So ... THE QUESTION, at long last. As I am being led to doubt the readings from my stock sensor/gauge set, would the inaccuracy more likely stem from a faulty sender or a faulty gauge? And what are the most reliable of the conventional solutions to this situation? (For nonconventional, I have become privvy to bluetooth sensors that send oil pressure data directly to a mobile app. Bloody expensive! Possibly worth it?)

Constructive feedback and guidance would be dearly appreciated; much more so than arguably-legit utterances like "dumb ass" and "idiot."

Thanks much. TT

 

[EricG]

Test using a mechanical sending gauge. If you still have 5 lbs of pressure you have $$$$ problems!

 

[TroyThunder]

Thanks, EricG. I should have clarified that there is variability in the readings I see. Often I see much higher PSI readings. But invariably, I also see low readings and occasionally zeros.

Mechanical-sensing system ... I like your thinking. Old-school. Not as simple and easy as "better sender" or "better gauge" ... but much more confidence-inspiring.

 

[TroyThunder]

Ah yes. Thank you again, EricG. Your reply has sent me down a path of research on the internet. I find many definitive threads of people with similar oil pressure concerns as mine. And also excellent mechanical-gauge suggestions/solutions. Tipping my cap to you, Sir!