I've been using Castrol 20W/50 for years in more than just my TR. Most of my
cars are high mileage and I've never experienced anything like what you are
discussing. Now I'm going to be paranoid about using it.
When I had a similar experience to Fred's it was during a return trip from
Spring Carlisle. The pressure dropped to zero at the Ohio Turnpike toll
booth and was about 30 while running at speed. I dropped the pan and
replaced the rod bearings and rebuilt the oil pump. The pump bottom plate
was scored badly and I worked it down with a piece of emery on a flat piece
of glass till the scores were gone. My crank has never been turned and is
the original crank with about 90,000+ miles on it. Oil pressure is now back
to 50+ at speed and 35/40 at idle unless a really hot day or after a very
spirited run. Castrol 20W/50 in the crankcase.
Those of you who know me know that I drive my car a lot and sometimes rev
beyond 5000. (What's the use of having a D Cam if you're not going to use
it!) So far so good. Took me to Mosport last year and will take me to VIR in
June this year and many other places in between. All with Castrol 20W/50
except for the Mosport run when there was an emergency oil change due to a
fuel pump failure and the subsequent thinning of the oil. That change was
Quaker State or Valvoline as I recall. Quaker State, another black listed
oil.
While I don't doubt that cleaning the valve balls in the oil filter head
resulted in improved oil pressure as I've seen this result on another
engine, my guess is that there was something else causing the problem which
was also cleaned in the process. At any rate I'm glad to hear that you're
back on the road Fred. I know how much you enjoy road trips in your TR 3.
See on the Road this summer Fred. Since no SP maybe you'll visit at VIR in
June.
JVV
----- Original Message -----
From: <Popnglo@aol.com>
To: <vafred@erols.com>; <triumphs@autox.team.net>
Sent: Sunday, April 25, 2004 7:54 AM
Subject: Re: oil pressure
> Fred,
>
> This is exactly what I've experienced when I switched to Castrol 20w/50
> (prior to that I was using Pennzoil 50W) and why I posted in the fall
whether to
> rebuild the oil pump. The consensus, as I recall, was not to rebuild ...
that
> the pressure was "normal" and to use a 20W/50.
> I still have some Castrol left, hhhmmm.
> How difficult, what procedure (in Bentley or Haynes) did you follow. I
think
> I'll do the same and switch oil. What oil recommendation?
> Ed (58 TR3A)
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