Sami951

I figured I need to ask about this, just in case it's something serious...

Lately I've been seeing lower oil pressure than usual. After some hard (track) driving, the idle pressure drops to about 2 bars, which I'm not afraid of, and it jumps right up if I give the car some gas ... which is normal/good I suppose... but what I don't like is that under full throttle acceleration it just won't go past 3-3,5 bars no matter what the rpm. Weird huh?

I know I forgot to re-install that oil cooler air duct when I had my bumper off, could it make such a difference? I promise to put it back in sometime soon...

Oil is 10w60 Valvoline. I have no idea how hot it gets, engine/coolant temp gauge never goes beyond normal though.

smokey

The oil cooler duct should be in there, and you don't want the oil pressure below 4 bar at 6,000 rpm at any time. I had the same experience after my engine was rebuilt for 290 hp, and had to add a Mocal oil cooler in front of the condenser. With added power, the standard oil cooler is insufficient. I also run Amsoil 20W50, and I now stay at about 4.5 bar at 6,000. Jon Milledge told me that you need at least 10 psi per 1,000 rpm, which means 4 bar at 6,000. I also have the trap door on the sump and the collar around the oil pick-up. Anyway, these are all defensive tactics to protect the Number 2 rod bearing. The oil pressure at idle doesn't matter, it's the pressure at 6,000 with hot oil that's important.

eclou

oil cooler airduct? I didn't even know there was one! I just installed the Mocal from Paragon recently. I don't think that hot oil is your problem. I was hitting 250 C+ oil temps on the track and still had strong pressure. Maybe your oil pressure relief spring has weakened?

hosrom_951

smokey: Something is wronge, the manual does not state anything regarding idle pressure. It mentions that at 5,000rpm oil pressure should read 4bar.

GaryK

My oil pressure would drop to 3 bar under load on a hot day at the track until I installed a second oil cooler (from KISS). Then it would stay around 4 bar, using Valvoline 20W-50 full synthetic, which is on Porsche's recommended list. But last time at the track, I noticed the oil pressure dropping to about 3.5 on the straights. The engine consumes a lot of oil on the track, and I just recently installed a restrictor in the oil feed to the Garrett T04E, so I'll see what happens next time at the track....

Sami951

Ok, I guess I'll need to get that KISS oil cooler sooner or later, just in case. Judging from the pics, it looks like it's relatively easy to put in... right?

Where's that oil pressure relief spring and how I do go about checking it?

Mike1982

I have wonder about another oil cooler but how is it in the winter? To much? How hard to install?

hosrom_951

What is wronge with you guys? i push the car REALLY HARD here (120+/50+) in the heat with a/c on. Never got lower than 1~1.5bar on idle and hit's 4+bar at 2,200rpm.

Check this out.....
"Engine oil pressure is shown in bars.
At 5.000 rpm, with the engine at normal operating temperature (approx. 90°C / 194°F), the pressure should be approx. 4 bar. A slight drop in oil pressure is normal under certain operating conditions such as prolonged highway driving in hot weather.
At idle speed, with the engine oil hot, the oil pressure can sink to 0.5 bar - this does not indicate any loss of engine performance.
However, if the oil pressure drops suddenly while you are driving, or if the warning light comes on, pull off the road, stop the engine and wait for it to cool down. Check the engine oil level. If the oil level is normal, contact the nearest dealer."

That is directly from the manual.............

Sami951

I'm mostly worried about the bearings, that's all

hosrom_951

Sami951: I just quoted what the manual said, just watch out for any ticking noises and/or sudden drop in oil pressure along with running the oil level at a safe level (at LEAST 3/4 full).

You should be fine.