FYI mine is approx 60psi when cold an gets down to 20psi on idle when hot. Driving approx 2500rpm it sits on 30-40 depending on weather.

50 is sweet.

A wise man one answered a question I asked him "how much oil pressure is too low mate? When should I panick?"
He goes "when you have none" lol

Pete

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Click here for the Turbo Conversion Thread!

For a Standard engine 50 psi is fine ..

as a general rule of thumb 10 psi for every 1000 rpm ..
or if your really desperate 5 psi for every 1000rpm ..

lets face it , if the gauge wasnt there you wouldnt be worried ... just like most new cars on the road as long as the light never comes on your fine.

if it were an cooper s motor or a freshly rebuilt engine then i would be worried ...

Beanie

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I am the son of the STIG

HOTBRICKS
http://hotbricks.org.au/

'65 NCF MINI.....
'69 MINIMATIC.... 9 year resto still on the go

+1. Why do you need 50 psi at idle? The engine is (generally) unloaded. As long as pressure increases with revs under load, staying above 10psi/1000rpm, it should be ok.

That said, I can certainly see the logic of not using a 997 engine every day. They were ridiculously undersquare. They had the same stroke as the 1275, yet a narrower bore than an 848. The car would be more practical (and likely a bit more powerful, given the relative reluctance of the 997 to rev compared with the 998) with a well built 998 than an equally well built 997. But, of course, having that 997 - even if it's just on the shelf - makes it that much more special. Even if it never goes back in (and I'm with Smac - I reckon most wouldn't ever go back in - but that's not the point!). Especially if the numbers all match.

The actual pressure is - within limits - not important. The oil being fed in to the engine bearings at 20 psi or 50 psi isn't going to make any difference since the pressures between the crank journal and the bearing shell are in excess of 2000 psi.

Probably what is more important is if say you on Monday your Oil Pressure was (say) 50 psi and by Friday it had dropped to 35 psi. Then I'd be worried, not because of the 35 psi but because of the 15 psi loss.

Running a higher oil pressure is a bad thing. It only cooks the oil.

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I get results of 25 idle 45 - 50 loaded...

I won't b pulling my motor apart any time soon because my oil pressure isn't as high as somone else's fresh motor.

Like GT said if it drops suddenly or After a long highway run then get worried.

Good luck Mate

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PrOuDlY aSkInG qUeStIoNs FoR uR aMuEsMeNt

KMX oil?

Nope.

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PrOuDlY aSkInG qUeStIoNs FoR uR aMuEsMeNt

**^$%$#&* GTX then. or Penrite HPR30.

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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.

Oils oilz oils.... Never ends .

Spied a few bottles at Minimans the other week using what he's using...

Leave it at that.

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PrOuDlY aSkInG qUeStIoNs FoR uR aMuEsMeNt

Well I'm dealing with kPa, so idle around 190 (~27psi), on the freeway she will sit on 450 (~65 psi)

All of your replies have been so helpful, thanks.

Im guessing this is either a good thing or a bad thing .. the seller says that it has always hovered around 50 (for 10 years or so). He also stressed with me that its not like the pressure gets to 75 and then falls away to 50 .. it runs warm at 50 all of the time .. and drops back to 25 at idle.

If I go ahead, I would really like it to be my daily drive and I'd also like it to keep the 997 in it if I can. Is this realistic? Are there things that I could do to the engine to 'protect' it so it will last longer? (sounds like a stupid question when I read it back .. ahh well).

Also, regarding the 997 cranks being like rocking horse dropping .. impossible to find or just difficult?

I like the 10psi for every 1000 rpm .. makes it easy for noobs like me, thanks Beanie.

Thanks again for all of your replies.

My checklist for second test drive is ..
- Watch pressure AND rpm this time.
- Drive on Highway / at speed and check pressure
- Check pressure at idle
- Check parcel shelf for kids seats anchor points .. I know I have seen them in some models .. were they in the Cooper?

No anchor points till the 70s.

Ask Graham in Aus how hard to find 997 cranks are, he would know.

I ran a bored out 997 (with 1098 crank) in my Mini back in the mid 60s, even then it was common to fit a 1098 crank if you busted a 997 one.
There is only .096" difference in stroke, deck the 997 pistons by .048" and a 1098 crank drops straight in.

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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.