I disconnected my oil pressure gauge while I worked on my dash.

On reinstalling its now really slow to react. ie start motor and it takes a while to rise up, when u switch off it drops slow.

I was thinking air trapped in the tube esp the rubber part.

Any other suggestions??

Have had the gauge of before but never had this problem.

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

Did you accidentally crimp, damage or flatten the pipe/tube anywhere? Maybe dirt/rubbish in the line, or blocking fitting?

No, just disconnected only.

I just now tried running the motor with the gauge off and let the oil run into a jar to bleed it, there was a few spurts of air so I thought that was it. but its still the same.

Takes 4 or 5 seconds for the gauge to rise after starting & dropps slowly when u switch off.

I'm sure it wasn't like that before.

Could air be trapped in the gauge?

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

mechanical gauges do tend to do that from my expierience

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Potato

It's just a little disconcerting when it doesn't lift from zero for 4-5 seconds. So would you say that is normal.

I'm starting to wonder if it's always been that way but I havn't noticed it.

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

is there a bit of gunk in the back of the gauge where the pipe joins on?

as long as your'e happy that it's indicating the actual oil pressure, or is reasonably accurate, I would let sleeping dogs lie. They all seem to vary a bit.

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1967 Cooper S - new front bearings to do.
1965 Cooper S shell - Slow progress. No time or money!
1966 Deluxe- next rustoration!
Mk 2 & XJ6 Jags. Less said the better.

+1

There is a filter at the gauge inlet . This can be blocked by a small piece of crap from the line pretty easily...especially after fiddling around with the line.

If you take the line off the back of the gauge you will see the filter. Blow the line through as well to be sure.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

I had did have a quick look at the back of the guage but didn't realise there was a filter. I bet that's it. Unless there is something jammed in the tube.

So can you see the filter at the fitting on the guage, you don't have to unscrew the fitting off the back of the guage to get to the filter?

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

No, if you unscrew the pipe off the back of the gauge like you already have you should be able to loo up the tube into the back of the gauge and see the filter right there. Its sintered brass or similar to keep junk out of the bourdon tube inside the gauge.

If you can see a layer of black crap, have a dig at it with a sharp point like a pair of tweezers or use a small screwdriver pick or an awl. Also have a look at the pipe to see if it isn't kinked or creased on its way to the engine. If you put the end into a jar and have a busty and charismatic assistant crank the engine you should see a flow of oil blow out the end of the tube and into the jar. A good way to clear the crap out as well.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

Thanks all, esp Ian49, simon k and mick, you were all spot on.

The filter at the back of the guage didn't look too bad, just a bit grubby, but gave it a clean and gauge is back to normal, actually it's probably better than before, moves quicker and more is more reactive.

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)