Steven,
There are two other common sources of oil loss on rootes engines.
1) One is the brass coupler to the rocker shafts. There are
supposed to be some orings that seal the shafts to the coulpler.
If they are cracked, missing or the wrong size, you will have a
significant loss in oil pressure, but worse yet is that your
rockers will not get properly lubricated.
2) The tube that is inside the timing cover, which is supposed to
dribble oil on the tensioner block, if missing, broken or otherwise
messed up, will flood the timing cover with oil, and result in a large
reduction i oil pressure.
I presume the pressure readings you wrote of were at idle.
Frankly if these pressures are at a hot idle, they are normal for
an engine that has clearances at the loose side of normal for
the rootes engine.
Whats more important is that you see 45+ PSI with the engine at 2500 RPM.
HTH
Jarrid Gross
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-alpines@autox.team.net
[mailto:owner-alpines@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Keith Johnson
Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2003 11:55 PM
To: Steven Graham
Cc: alpines@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: Oil pressure
Steve
That you have oil pressure means that it is all going in the right places
hopefully.
Low pressure can be caused by the pump not moving enough oil or pressure
escaping someplace.
I place my bets on the second cause.
Try checking that pesky little pipe that runs up to the rocker gear. You can
get at the top by removing the rocker cover and the bottom by pulling off
the side plate over the pushrods. It may be cracked or the compression
olives may have just slid off.
Keith
55 Californian
57 Rapier
----- Original Message -----
From: "Steven Graham" <sjgraham@bigpond.com>
To: <alpines@autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, September 12, 2003 4:35 PM
Subject: Oil pressure
> Hi all,
>
> Finally started the motor, really concerned, oil pressure shows 18-23 lbs.
Motor is 1725 fully rebuilt by a professional who asembled the basic
engine/head. I fitted the ancilleries including a brand new oil pump. I have
changed the oil gauge to a new one, still low reading. I have removed the
oil pressure valve below the filter, seems ok. I have noted on the list that
Rootes had a tech fix to replace the valve with one from a 1600 and there is
also a tech article for converting the valve to a adjustable one.
>
> Help please, am quite worried that an expensive rebuid could be damaged.
>
> Thanks,
> Steve Graham
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