[6pack] Cooling/Oil Pressure Problem

[Sally or Dick Taylor]

John---Any change, such as what you have witnessed, bears watching. It doesn't sound critical tho. On the oil gauge, it looks like your pump had picked up some air. This can happen when making a sudden change in up/downhill direction, especially if the oil was not up to temperature when this was seen.  If this becomes common, and a simple oil and filter change doesn't solve it, you may want to drop the sump and remove the oil pump to clean the screen.

On the water temp + side of this, check the following:

a) Water pump pulley belt tension.

b) Remove the radiator cap and run the engine long enough to bring it up to temp. Now with the thermostat open, check for air bubbles in the water return. Run the engine long enough to purge any air. If the bubbles never stop, there could be air getting in thru a blown head gasket, or??

c) Check ignition timing. Retarded timing can increase  engine temperatures, which could explain both.

Dick







-----Original Message-----
From: shewfamily at aol.com
Sent: Thursday, April 1, 2010 7:23 AM
To: 6pack at autox.team.net
Subject: [6pack] Cooling/Oil Pressure Problem

I have had the TR6 out several times over the winter when temperatures would
allow, but more recently I am starting to drive it more now that the weather
is staying at a nice 70 degrees.

I experienced a problem with my temp gauge creeping up not to the hot area,
but at most about two needle widths past the normal line in the center of the
guage.   Usually the temp gauge stays about a needle width below the center
mark.  At the same time I have noticed that my oil pressure has dropped from
about 75 lbs at 70 mph to around 68 to 70 lbs.  At times at speed, the oil
pressure gauge will move quickly down to 50 lbs and back up to around 70 lbs.
The oil pressure at idle is just slightly below 30 lbs when it has always been
right at 30 lbs.  I thought maybe it was getting a little hotter than normal
and so I replaced the thermostat.  Thought it fixed it but it still show
around 70 pounds but the temp gauge now doesn't go any higher than one needle
width above the center mark.  It appears that my oil pressure is actually at
75 lbs when I am cruising in 4th gear doing 45 mph and 2,000 RPM and 70 lbs
with driving 70 in OD and turning 2,500 RPM.

Anyone have any suggestions?  Oil is on the full mark and I have checked it to
make sure it is not diluted with gas from a sticking float valve.  Help.
John Shewmake
'74 TR6
Birmingham, Al
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