Alfa Pages

dd (not logged in) · Guest

What knowledgeable views on this?
When the engine is hot (close to 100) with fan cutting in
And stopping, with engine speed near to or at idle (800rpm)
The little red light oil pressure light flicks on.
When cooler (less than 90) does not
It does not come on when stationary and
idling at near an indicated 100 temperature.
Oil Pressure checked at 1bar at idle, 4bar at 3500, 5bar plus at 4500
ie Pressure is as per book
Coolant system flushed
New semi-synthetic oil, new filter (1000 miles)
Oil vapour trap clean, no mayo at all.
Only thing not checked is inside oil sump and pump filter gauze
Oil flush a week ago say noting to worry about.
Any solutions to this paranoia other than keep engine at 1000rpm
when idling to a stop?
-- dd

Scott Sander · Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2003 3:11 am Post subject:

Hi,

What sort of oil filter are you using, Genuine, Technocar, etc?
_________________
Scott Sander
'91 Alfa 33 Boxer 16V Monza - Awesome
http://www.sanderfamily.com

dd (not logged in) · Guest

Further information:
Alfa Romeo Ricambi Filter (Orange) Fitted
Problem exists with old and new oil pressure sensors
Oil level good

alfafan · Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2003 1:41 pm Post subject: Oil Pressure warning Light

Probably your oil pump needs rebuild or replace....

Regards

Carlos Oliveira

dd (not logged in) · Guest

Dont think it is the oil pump
As when idling at 900/1000 rpm pressur is 1bar plus
and climbs to over 5 bar at 5000rpm
This is what a new engine should do, my little baby has 108000miles
Seems to be crelated to idle hunting and light on when car idle falters
at high end of temp range (ie 100 degrees)
NEVER happens when engine at 95degrees or lower
- thinking on lower fan temperature switch (5 or 6 degrees lower)
BUT from where?
Injectors balanced (using mamometer) for idle and 4500
Idle hoses to to junction (5 thin one per injector choke plus regulator)
and thick one from idle accentuator replaced too

alexj · Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2003 1:26 pm Post subject:

What grade of oil?
I take it the oil was recently replaced?

Yvon · Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2003 11:29 pm Post subject:

Maybe a stupid question !!! You sure about your RPM value?

My first 1.5 IE interupte at 4800. When I went to my Alfa mechanic, we saw that RPM was not showing correct value. He made an adjustment and everything was correct after.

Just an idea !!

Cia
Yvon

Hamish Brown · Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2003 1:07 am Post subject: oil pressure light

Just a thought it could be that when the temp of the oil gets up that high the viscosity is so thin that when its at idle the oil pump isnt putting out as much pressure as what you think causing the oil light to just flicker. maybe that new oil isnt so good. Did you use it before the prob. And the thermo fan should be cutting in between 88-92deg C thats in a 33 16v anyway.

alferr · Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2003 1:37 pm Post subject: electrical probelm

is it an electrical probelm at all, we wall know what alfa electronics are like..!!
_________________
-=alferr=-
goto #alfa33_net on DALnet

dd (guesting again) · Guest

The idle occassionally drops to less than 800rpm
The lower we let her idle the stronger the oil pressure light
IE on all the time if set idle to 500rpm
A mere flicker if running at 800rpm
(car has idled at 450rpm when we were balancing injectors and cables using mamometer)
So if idling at 900-1050 no problem
Tacho does read slightly high when compared to snapon diagnostic reader

The OIL is A Good correct-grade Semi-synthetic (and new)
(Container has a Griffin on the front! but £10 cheaper than Selennia 20k)
You gonna tell me vauxhall oil worse than alfa romeo semi-synthetic?
New fan switch now in place
New Oil Pressure Sensor already in place

Only happens when car hot and running near 90 degrees

dd
-- Getting ready to sell all the alfas and buy a nice little R32

BILL · Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2003 7:14 pm Post subject:

Check the compression on each cylinder if its low that could be the problem or connect an extra oil preasure gauge to be able to check at any time.

Admin · Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2003 11:06 pm Post subject:

Hi

It does sound to me like the oil pump is misbehaving, either through wear or the preasure relief valve is sticking slightly open.

All the best

Keith

Chris Notsis · Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2003 3:14 am Post subject: oil light

Keith could be right about the pump. Oil pumps can have intermittent flow problems at idle. What concerns me however, is the hunting idle you're talking about. Has the fuel system been checked? ie: the fuel filter in particular. Also, you mention a couple of times that the temp tends to be quite high. This suggests that the thermostat may not be opening fully. Although fuel supply at the injectors is determined by coolant temp (when cold, relative to warmed up) a low fuel pulse will lower idle which will in turn raise temperature which will lower the idle further, which will raise the temp further still!!!! This then has an impact of oil pressure and engine oil temp. Check the thermostat and Coolant Temp Sensor.
_________________
Chris Notsis

dd (guesting again) · Guest

OK
Car has new S/H fuel tank, and rebuilt fuel delivery system
up to but not including regulator and that other pulse dampener
in the 16V system
Thermostat replaced 18 months ago
Temperature sensor checked with snap-on diagnostic
After complete check and clean of all engine loom connections
Impedence checking of all HT leads (at 5.5 to 6k Ohms)
Idle hunts less but occassional falter (once every 5 minutes of idle?)
Oil Pressure Sensor light dissappears at 1000rpm
And only on for definite when Idle deliberately reduced to 800rpm or less
Due for rebalance of Throttle bodies after above Double checks
If still happens, gonna do Oil Pump overhaul
But what is the electrical connection between Oil Pressure sensor System
and alternator?
Dont wanna spend £50 on Oil pessure Gauge with dashboard hacking
to fit it in.
-- dd

Chris Notsis · Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2003 2:40 pm Post subject: Re: This one runs on...

dd (not logged in) · Guest

Thanks for all replies to this little bugbear.
Idle falter cured by replacing rotor, dist. cap and 4 new PFR6Bs
It had 20kmile NGK tri-electrodes, we suspected offside rear plug
It was the offside rear cylinder that was faltering
Oil pressure light problem avoided by adding 400ml of STP oil conditioner
I know it is a work around and I really need to check oil pump for wear
However, light no longer lights up at 850rpm idle
Thanks again for information

ady_botos · Guest

I saw that you talked about how you adjusted your idle rpm at 500, 800 and beetwen 950-1050. How do you adjust your idle rpm?
By the way: my idle RPM is about 800 and it should be more like 950-1050
(33 1.7 IE , Cat Conv and Lambda Probe, Jetronic System)

I had the same problem with oil pressure at high temp (it happend after a very cold winter). It happend after about 6000 km with the Selenia Alfa Romeo 20K oil. I thought that Selenia 20K is to be used AT LEAST 15K not 6K !!!???!!!
And dont know why, but after the oil change (ESSO), the oil pressure light stoped lighting up.

bw · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2003 12:32 pm Post subject:

I know the oil is pretty fresh, but if it was me I would change it again anyway. Problem like this I had on an Escort was rubbish oil and not long after it had been put in, and it never recurred after I replaced it.

Martini · Alfasud Joined: 15 Mar 2003 Posts: 25

Hello!
I just changed the crank bearings and today my oil lamp started blinking like mad at idle and high engine temperature. It stopped when the engine got some rest to cool down to normal temp. The oil was really thin but level was ok.

I read this the minute after I asked for help at the CAR Svezia site. I thought it might be something I accidently did to the oil pump cause i wiped it with a cloth but now i realize it might be the oil. I must confess I use a "noname cheapo full syntetic 5w-40 oil" with API SJ/CF which is said to originate from Statoil. Now I'll definitely go back to Castrol GTX Magnatec 5w-40 altough the specifications are identical. (Prices are NOT!£15,5 vs £31 for 4l...)

As someone warned me about cheap oil: If you're cheap to your ALFA she'll be cheap to you! Embarassed

Been there, lesson learned Embarassed

Martin