Glen
If I'm understanding right, I would connect the pressure gauge to the port on the engine block where the external top oiler tube leading up to the head comes out of the block (and plug the port where it enters the head itself to prevent oil from squirting out).
Hope I've got that right 'cause I'm sitting down with my Victoria British catalog to see if I can order a mechanical-type gauge.
The external oiler bypasses the internal oiling port that gets its oil to the top from the rear cam bearing, and taps directly off of the mains pressure, so yes you can temporarily hook up there to test, but you have to connect to the feed line.
The internal port may or may not be blocked off, so you better plug the hole in the back of the head too; if it is making pressure it will piss out of the hole.
You can't measure pressure off the head port cuz it metered off the cam bearing journal and isn't full mains pressure.
HTH
Glen
Sadly, there isn't any way to use a socket on the oil pressure sensor. I have tried regular open-end wrenches, crow-foot wrenches, and even flare-nut wrenches, with the only result being that
I have rounded the nut somewhat. No joy with any of the above.
I already removed and inspected the oil pressure relief valve and could see absolutely nothing amiss.
Would it work to connect a pressure gauge the top oil fitting at rear of the cylinder head (as described in previous emails?) The gauge I bought is electric, but I could easily order a mechanical one and try that.
TJ there are special sockets made for different type sending units, if you haven't tried that already.
The oil light comes on at very low pressure, less than 10 lbs, some around 4-5; a healthy engine will easily make 40+ cold idle.
You really should get a gauge on it, you can tap into the main gallery anywhere, there are several plugged ports off the mains, it's a matter of getting the correct fittings.
The fact that the filter has oil in it suggests that it is pumping some oil out of the pump.
If it turns out that the pump is working and it really doesn't build up pressure, the 1st suspect would be the pressure relief valve being stuck open, and the oil would go right back into the sump.
Glen
Great suggestion! And having removed and then re-installed the speedo and associated wiring when I painted the dash, for a minute I thought you might have hit the nail on the head. But I just checked and unfortunately it's green, not blue (my mistake).
The original owner's manual does say that the green oil light will remain on at idle and only goes out when the engine runs above idle speed. The owner's manual says the following:
“The centre indicator at the bottom of the dial glows green when the ignition is switched on and is extinguished when the engine runs in excess of idle speed.”
Not a very useful design, to say the least. Maybe if I gunned the engine the light would go off...or maybe it would stay on and I would just succeed in destroying the engine bearings.
I will try some of the solutions you guys have mentioned (for instance, removing the oil plug at the rear of the cylinder head to see if oil is pumping out) and if the results are positive I might try revving the engine.
Of course installing a pressure gauge would answer the basic question, but I gave up on that after being completely unable to first remove the existing oil sensor.
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