Hey guys,

Today I ran scooby from work (40 min freeway drive at 100-110kph)outside air temp was about 36 degrees c. At idle after coming off the off ramp oil pressure dropped to less than 15psi and the oil light came on. reving obviously brought the pressure up and put the light out. Is this a problem? normal driving pressure was about 45psi and radiator water temp was averaging out between 80 and 95. I might add that on a cool day water temp stays around 80 and oil pressure about 55-60psi. oil level was about 2/3rds of max by the way. I must admit I have not changed oil or filter yet as I was only planning to drive him for about a month before coming off the road, so all I did was give a quick tune up.

Cheers

Gig

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67 Deluxe - Red and white
69 Deluxe - Sugercane Grey

Our Barney does the same.
Fast driving on the freeway thrashes the oil, thins it out- after a few miles at slower speed it will recover. Your oil light might just be set a bit high..

Couple of cures:
1. Use thicker oul- Penrite HPR40, or similar- Valvoline 20W/60, Helix Older Engine, etc.
2. Or, fit a 13 row oil cooler. My 1310 still has 75psi at 2500 rpm after freeway running on hot days. Oil I use now is Castrol Formula R 25W/50 (the old GP50).

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Aha!

Yeh thanks doc, I have been recommended the Penrite oil - I'll give it a go on the weekend. I also serviced and tuned the carby and brought the idle speed down so I probably didn't notice the pressure drop because it was idling much higher before. The next thing to get is a tacho, I really would like to know how fast the engine is spinning on the freeway it really seems to scream its guts out at 110 and at the moment that makes me nervous although it still has plenty of power it seems.

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67 Deluxe - Red and white
69 Deluxe - Sugercane Grey

Hey Doc... just a question about the Formula R oil. I've been running this for about 10,000 km, on it's 3rd oil change with the stuff now. I find that when it's full (right on the full mark on the dip stick), when it gets hot on a warmish day, it will sometimes throw ALOTA white smoke outa the pipe under load. It only happens when it's full full, and only when it's real hot (like just done 100km on a fwy, or going through some hills). When the oil level drops a bit, it's fine, but obviously I would like to keep as much oil in it as possible.

I was thinking maybe get an oil cooler, and continue using the Formula R, or change to a different oil. Obviously the oil is the cheeper option. I've just changed the oil as of Friday, so it will be another 5000 km, unless this problem gets more frequent, it's only happened once really bad which was last oil change, but happened again last Sunday, but it wasn't bad at all.

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won't worn big-end bearings drop your oil pressure too? before I rebuilt the motor it would be around 35 at idle when hot, now it only drops to about 50 when it's really hot. I'm using Fuchs Formula 60, equiv. to the castrol GP50

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

Yeah worn bearings will drop it a bit. My rule of thumb is- if it's 40psi or less, revving and hot, it's bearing time..
But with worn bearings the idle pressure will be lower even when cold- if they are any good it will have 60psi+ cold at idle.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.