I have had my TR3 for almost a year. I haven't driven it much because the
car spent probably 8 of the last 12 months in storage. This weekend I
changed the oil for the first time. The previous owner told me he changed
the oil every 6 months. Well, the oil looked like it was crude oil - black
and thick.
Anyway, I added Castrol 10W-30 and replaced the the existing spin-on oil
filter with a Fram PH2825. For good measure (I think and I hope), I added
CD-2, an oil detergent, with the thought that I will change the oil again in
a month before I put my car away for seasonal storage.
Now my question: Before changing the oil, oil pressure was consistent at
50lbs (at idle and at speed). After changing the oil, the pressure was at
60lbs, then quickly stabilized at 50lbs. Good. I took the car for a spin
to get the engine very hot and to check for leaks. After a bit, the oil
pressure, at idle, dropped to about 30lbs. At speed, the pressure was about
50lbs. By the time I got home, oil pressure, at idle, varied between 20lbs
and 30lbs. There are no leaks (other than normal) that I can see. The
engine and operating performance ran like a charm; very strong.
I looked at my TR manuals that said that oil pressure should vary between
30lbs and 70lbs. Should I be worried that oil pressure drops to 20 lbs at
hot idle? Should I worry that hot at idle oil pressure droped to 30lbs from
50lbs previously? Or is this simple a result of clean oil? Should I be
using a heavier weight of motor oil?
Steve Peca
Franklin Twp, New Jersey
1958 TR3A - TS23867L
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