RE: oil pressure, uneven running..

["Jeff Greenfield" <alfaguy@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Greg -

The light and gauge and two completely separate circuits. You should never
see the low oil pressure warning lamp come on while the engine is running
unless a) the sump is empty, b) the switch or wiring is faulty, c) there is
a major internal engine failure.

To be sure, you need to install a mechanical calibrated oil pressure gauge
to verify the accuracy of the gauge in the car. The sending units for the
oil pressure gauge are notorious for failing.

Not to alarm you, but it sounds like you may have dropped one or two of the
aluminum oil galley plugs in the crankshaft. Again, a check with a
mechanical gauge will verify this.

The offending plug (or plugs) can be replaced with the engine in the car.
You will need to remove the sump (upper section). You can then (with some
difficulty) tap a new plug into place. Clean the area as well as possible
(solvent such as brake cleaner, and compressed air) and then use some red
loctite on the new plug prior to driving it in and staking it in place.

My recollection is that the worst one to replace with the engine in the car
is the rear most one, but it can be done as I've managed to do it.

LMK if you have any questions ...

Jeff

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-alfa@domain.elided [mailto:owner-alfa@domain.elided] On Behalf Of
greg@domain.elided
Sent: Tuesday, August 05, 2003 10:52 PM
To: James Montebello
Cc: alfa@domain.elided
Subject: Re: oil pressure, uneven running..

On Tue, 5 Aug 2003, James Montebello wrote:

> On Wed, 6 Aug 2003 greg@domain.elided wrote:
> > 2> The oil pressure has me worried. I'm going to change the oil at first
> > opportunity, and possibly run a flush through, and check it with fresh
oil
> > since this oil is about the time to be changed.
>
> Could also just be your oil pressure sender is dying.  Check the pressure
> with a calibrated gauge before panicking.  If you're getting >50psi of
> pressure at speed, everything is probably fine.

Normally I do have >50 (on the spider's guage) at speed. Today at speed it
appeared to be no more than ~40 (if this were a gas guage and 57 was the
middle or half tank, then it would be readinab about 1/3).

At first I suspected the pressure guage, however, it is my understanding
that the guage and the low-pressure light sensor are two separate items.
If that is the case, I have a hard time thinking both would read low
pressures at the same time. It is the combination of the pressure light at
idle being solidly lit (and flickering if I barely raise the idle speed)
with the reduced pressure on the oil guage that has me concerned and
prompted my questions.

> > 3> Is it normal to need to wait a few minutes after turning the engine
off
> > to get a really good and accurate reading on the dipstick? The
difference
> > between checking immediately after turning the engine off and about 5
> > minutes later can be a quart to a quart and a half.
>
> Yes.  ...


Thanks for the information. I will be taking a much closer look at the car
tomorrow and hopefully all this will turn out to be nothing or at least
something simple. I'd rather be overreacting than find out I've got major
problems. :)

Greg
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