oil pressure problem, oil light keeps coming on |
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oil pressure problem, oil light keeps coming on |
mrbubblehead |
Apr 13 2011, 07:55 PM
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#1
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Twodollardoug Group: Members Posts: 1,155 Joined: 17-December 10 From: calimesa ca. Member No.: 12,492 Region Association: Southern California |
im having a problem with my 914. the oil light for my 1.8, keeps coming on. never when the engine is cool. but after it is good and hot. it will come on when get off the freeway and sit at a stop sign. it comes on when im hard cornering. it even came on once after i was getting on the freeway at wide open throttle then immediately decelerate. i am running 20-50 wt oil. and 800 rpm idle. and oil level to the top line. but the problem gets worse as the oil level drops. im not real familiar with the type 4 engine. but know the type 1 very well.
i have a couple ideas for where the problem may lie. 1. oil pump is wore out 2. windage tray, or lack of. its not a defective oil pressure switch, i replaced it with a new one with the same result. in fact, i now have oil light and an oil pressure gauge. im pretty sure this is not normal for a type 4. but i want to ask anyways, so i can rule it out. any ideas? |
SCV |
Apr 16 2011, 10:03 PM
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#2
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Aircooled Enthusiast Group: Members Posts: 92 Joined: 1-August 09 From: Austin, Texas Member No.: 10,630 Region Association: None |
I went through a problem with low oil pressure at hot idle when I first brought my '75 home. The oil light would flicker a bit at idle, and in the interest of taking the easy, relatively inexpensive route, I replaced the sending unit. As pointed out by Cap'n Krusty and others, there are multiple senders that fit, and they trigger at different pressures. It took a bit of digging to locate the correct sender, but that wasn't the problem. A highly-recommended, independent Porsche shop (who shall remain nameless for the moment) told the Previous Owner that it is "normal" for the oil light in a 914/4 to flicker at idle once the engine is hot. Riiight. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/screwy.gif)
A closer inspection of the engine revealed the issue. The oil cooler seals had hardened and cracked slightly, causing the seals to hold when cold, but not when at operating temperature. After following the procedure on the Pelican Parts website for changing the oil cooler seals without removing the engine, the problem was fixed and remains fixed to this day. (Insert superstitious gesture here) My oil pressure, with oil cooler seals fixed, as verified by two mechanical gauges, is 12 PSI at hot idle. (98* day, after 45 minutes on the freeway at ~75MPH). At speed, I have at least 10 PSI per 1000 RPM. Problem solved. I don't have oil temperature or CHT gauges, but will add these when budget allows. Mrbubblehead, I'm glad you were able to sort out your oil pressure issue without major engine work. -S |
mrbubblehead |
Apr 16 2011, 11:51 PM
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#3
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Twodollardoug Group: Members Posts: 1,155 Joined: 17-December 10 From: calimesa ca. Member No.: 12,492 Region Association: Southern California |
A closer inspection of the engine revealed the issue. The oil cooler seals had hardened and cracked slightly, causing the seals to hold when cold, but not when at operating temperature. After following the procedure on the Pelican Parts website for changing the oil cooler seals without removing the engine, the problem was fixed and remains fixed to this day. (Insert superstitious gesture here) My oil pressure, with oil cooler seals fixed, as verified by two mechanical gauges, is 12 PSI at hot idle. (98* day, after 45 minutes on the freeway at ~75MPH). At speed, I have at least 10 PSI per 1000 RPM. Problem solved. I don't have oil temperature or CHT gauges, but will add these when budget allows. Mrbubblehead, I'm glad you were able to sort out your oil pressure issue without major engine work. -S thanks, but its too early to tell if its fixed or not. i didnt think of the oil cooler seals. they are not leaking. were yours leaking? or were they allowing air IN? im guessing the seals are the same as a type 1 dog house oil cooler seals. because if so im sure i have a few left over sets.... out of curiosity, how did you pinpoint it to your seals? i really hate to split the case to check the bearings. seems like main bearings are not easy find for type 4's. i need to find a core to build on my time. and not while being held under the gun. my teener is now my daily driver. |
SCV |
Apr 17 2011, 11:24 PM
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#4
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Aircooled Enthusiast Group: Members Posts: 92 Joined: 1-August 09 From: Austin, Texas Member No.: 10,630 Region Association: None |
Thanks for the info, Detoxcowboy. I've always associated a flickering oil light with very bad things in every other make of car or truck I've encountered. I'd never heard it described as normal, and it didn't sit well. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) Still relatively new to 914s here.
Mrbubblehead, sorry man, must have misread that you had fixed the problem. Maybe I need to get more (IMG:style_emoticons/default/yellowsleep[1].gif). My seals were leaking slightly. I just followed the stain to the source. I wanted to try everything short of a complete rebuild to fix the problem as I saw it, since I could not and cannot afford a complete rebuild done right this month. When I observed that the oil pressure switch is near the oil cooler and leaking seals, it seemed plausible that this might be the source of the pressure drop that was causing my flickering oil light. I hope your engine problem is fixed as easily. |
mrbubblehead |
Apr 17 2011, 11:36 PM
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#5
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Twodollardoug Group: Members Posts: 1,155 Joined: 17-December 10 From: calimesa ca. Member No.: 12,492 Region Association: Southern California |
Thanks for the info, Detoxcowboy. I've always associated a flickering oil light with very bad things in every other make of car or truck I've encountered. I'd never heard it described as normal, and it didn't sit well. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) Still relatively new to 914s here. Mrbubblehead, sorry man, must have misread that you had fixed the problem. Maybe I need to get more (IMG:style_emoticons/default/yellowsleep[1].gif). My seals were leaking slightly. I just followed the stain to the source. I wanted to try everything short of a complete rebuild to fix the problem as I saw it, since I could not and cannot afford a complete rebuild done right this month. When I observed that the oil pressure switch is near the oil cooler and leaking seals, it seemed plausible that this might be the source of the pressure drop that was causing my flickering oil light. I hope your engine problem is fixed as easily. no problem scv. i dont have any history on this particular engine, so i still dont trust it yet. i would feel alot better if i had one in the process of being overhauled just in case. this car is my daily driver, so i have to be careful. so far this flickering light has been its only quirck. we will see if raising the idle will buy me some time. fingers crossed. sounds like you had an easy fix. and cheap too. good for you. you saved yourself alot of dough. i love the simple fixes. this is a bitchen little car. and i plan on keeping it. gotta keep it in top shape. |
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