Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Delay to bring up oil pressure ( 2006 +4 )

When I start the engine it takes about 5 sec. to bring up oil pressure to a decent level (3-4 bar when cold).

Never really measured the time before but I have the feeling this is a new symptom. All my other cars I had (non-Morgans) were much faster to bring pressure up, usually already during cranking.

Yes, there is enough oil in the sump and the delay varies only a litte if the car stood for a week or a minute.

Should I replace the oil pump or is there anything else preventing pressure coming up immediately ? (48k Miles on the clock)

Any hints/ideas much appreciated !

Peter

Duff oil pressure sender unit is much more likely the cause

I’d put the lead to the sender to earth and see if the gauge moves smoothly across the range, should go zero to max. If so I’d guess at sender unit and it’s the cheapest and quickest possible solution.

I would check the sender first. It could also be a sticking PRV staying slightly open on shutting down the car I guess.
Is it always the same 5 secs? By that I mean if you leave the car a few days is it the same as restarting the car after say 15 seconds? If it is different it could be oild draining back via the pump.

I would say it is roughly the same when left for a few days of for a minute but I have not (yet) tried 15 secs. but a couple of seconds off and then restarted again. In this case it takes maybe 2 secs. to bring pressure up again. Still not really quick.

Need to investigate, but first I need to obtain a Workshop Manual for the Duratec 2.0, Are there any recommended sources ?

Thanks for all the feedback.
Peter

The topic of low oil pressure as the possible result of a partially stuck PRV intrigues me somewhat. I guess my first question in such a scenario would be related to the actual pressure that the valve is set to begin to lift at...?

As best I understand it that pressure setting may be to save causing gasket leakage...?

I also suspect, though could be entirely incorrect, other than if one revs a cold engine higher up the rev range it may be unlikely that the valve might ever lift..?

It seems that in order to increase efficiency that modern engine oils may be a lot thinner than they once were, thus paying attention to ensure the correct grade relative to the engine spec is best considered..?

There was discussion quite recently of a +8 which failed to build pressure after lay up, requiring the oil pump gears to be filled with grease to reduce the wear within which is designed to make up for wear in the pump and increase it`s lift/suck potential, in order to raise oil initially from the sump, and once performed normal operation was restored...Quite how that situation might work out long term...?

I have digressed... Yup unless you have been revving the nuts off your engine or changed the oil recently or put in a dodgy oil filter that is collapsing internally in usage, or, or, or.... I hope it turns out to be a wiring connection or sender issue...Fingers crossed..