MD355 Posted May 23, 2020 Report Share Posted May 23, 2020 Hi to all !! It's been 5 months now I have been enjoying the Esprit V8 after the complete rebuild without any problems.. Tonight while driving at 3000-5000 rpm around town, at some point the low oil warning light came on !! Immediately I pulled over and switched the engine off, in fear of the worst case scenario that something is wrong with my car.. After a few minutes, I started the engine and there was no problem whatsoever... No warning light either... and the car drove perfectly... This is the second time this has happened... My car is a 2001 Esprit V8 without oil pressure gauge, so I have no clue what is going on... For those who don't remember, last summer my engine spun a conrod bearing when the oil pressure relief valve got stuck open, and the engine was starved of oil... During that time the low pressure light came on, and after a few seconds I heard disaster from the back.. This time, after the rebuild with new pistons, new oil pump and new oil pressure relief valve, everything seems fine... So could it just be a bad sensor ??? My mechanic suggested we find a way to install an oil pressure gauge... Opinions ??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jep Posted May 23, 2020 Report Share Posted May 23, 2020 That is a worry given the event last year. Good luck with finding a solution. Justin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MD355 Posted May 23, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2020 Spoke with my mechanic today.. He said we should replace the sender unit of the oil pressure sensor... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike_sekinger Posted May 23, 2020 Report Share Posted May 23, 2020 Check that the spade is connected soundly. If it persists, then change the oil pressure switch. 1 Quote 1996 Esprit V8, 1998 Esprit V8 GT, 1999 Esprit S350 #002 (Esprit GT1 replica project), 1996 Esprit V8 GT1 (chassis 114-001), 1992 Lotus Omega (927E), 1999 Esprit V8SE, 1999 Esprit S350 #032, 1995 Esprit S4s, 1999 Esprit V8 GT (ex-5th Gear project), 1999 Esprit V8SE ('02 rear) 1999 S350 #002 Esprit GT1 replica Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v8GTmac1 Posted May 27, 2020 Report Share Posted May 27, 2020 (edited) I have trained myself and the wife to monitor the oil pressure gauge more so then watching the actual road cause priorities 🙂 i would install a temporary mechanical gauge somewhere to get an actual reading in your case before your next extended drive. As the oil gets hot it will thin and pressure will drop. It’s officially +100f over here and I now have to worry about the fuel system overheating. Edited May 27, 2020 by v8GTmac1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mightymetro Posted May 27, 2020 Report Share Posted May 27, 2020 I have the same issue with flickering on idle and am waiting for a gauge to arrive before using the car again 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jep Posted May 27, 2020 Report Share Posted May 27, 2020 I know oil is an explosive topic...but I once had low oil pressure at idle on my 928 (now sold). Old, tired engine, I changed oil to 20/50 Valvoline Racing and pressure was significantly better. I suspect previous owner had used a thinner oil. It still smoked.... but I had good pressure. Obviously oil pressure issues at higher revs is serious and should be investigated thoroughly. Justin 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MD355 Posted May 27, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 27, 2020 4 hours ago, v8GTmac1 said: I have trained myself and the wife to monitor the oil pressure gauge more so then watching the actual road cause priorities 🙂 i would install a temporary mechanical gauge somewhere to get an actual reading in your case before your next extended drive. As the oil gets hot it will thin and pressure will drop. It’s officially +100f over here and I now have to worry about the fuel system overheating. Thanks for the reply !! So in your opinion do you think there is actually something wrong with the oil pressure indeed, or is it just the indicator ? I recently opened the gauge panel to install a new fuel gauge.. Maybe I touched the cable for the oil pressure light.. Or maybe the oil pressure sender is bad.. I surr hope I have no actual oil pressure problems.. New pistons, new oil pump, new oil pressure release valve, new oil lines... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmusc Posted May 27, 2020 Report Share Posted May 27, 2020 I would check and recheck to make sure the oil pressure is good before I drove anywhere. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LotuStuart Posted May 27, 2020 Report Share Posted May 27, 2020 I’d say a T piece for the sensor, with one end being the one sensor and the second being a mechanical gauge. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mightymetro Posted May 27, 2020 Report Share Posted May 27, 2020 I was lucky that my oil filter housing actually has a spare hole for the sender gauge like a pre 1998. Bit of a parts bin special 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v8GTmac1 Posted May 29, 2020 Report Share Posted May 29, 2020 On 27/05/2020 at 08:24, LotuStuart said: I’d say a T piece for the sensor, with one end being the one sensor and the second being a mechanical gauge. Yeah but sourcing the fittings to accommodate a T fitting on the 918 is time consuming. Its metric on the block convert to AN banjo bolt add a length of braided line then T piece and convert back to metric for the oem sender i know cause I did that and ended up just plugging the extended hose off and not running the oem sender anymore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bibs Posted May 29, 2020 Report Share Posted May 29, 2020 Just saying, but you did check the oil level didn't you? 2 Quote 88 Esprit NA, 89 Esprit Turbo SE, Evora, Evora S, Evora IPS, Evora S IPS, Evora S IPS SR, Evora 400, Elise S1, Elise S1 111s, Evora GT410 Sport Evora NA For forum issues, please contact the Moderators. I will aim to respond to emails/PM's Mon-Fri 9-6 GMT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM C8RKH Posted May 29, 2020 Gold FFM Report Share Posted May 29, 2020 On 27/05/2020 at 07:07, v8GTmac1 said: It’s officially +100f over here and I now have to worry about the fuel system overheating. It's now summer in Scotland and I still worry if the diseasel in my wife's car will be frozen in the morning! Just saying.... 1 Quote I came into this world screaming and covered in someone elses blood. I'll probably leave it in the same way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chillidoggy Posted May 29, 2020 Report Share Posted May 29, 2020 Weather report this morning said Scotland will be having temperatures of up to 28C soon. You’ll die. 1 Quote Margate Exotics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v8GTmac1 Posted May 30, 2020 Report Share Posted May 30, 2020 On 27/05/2020 at 03:15, MD355 said: Thanks for the reply !! So in your opinion do you think there is actually something wrong with the oil pressure indeed, or is it just the indicator ? I recently opened the gauge panel to install a new fuel gauge.. Maybe I touched the cable for the oil pressure light.. Or maybe the oil pressure sender is bad.. I surr hope I have no actual oil pressure problems.. New pistons, new oil pump, new oil pressure release valve, new oil lines... In my opinion and I will base this off my rebuild. I dont have full trust in it yet. I have 1500 miles since rebuild and I have gone thru several oil changes. Now i'm mobil One 15-w50, when I pull my dip stick I can see something troubling on the tip, but everytime I have changed my oil it has been transparant. Although my 100 micron oil filter does continue to trap particles. I'm hoping it will end soon 😐. They only place I may have screwed up during rebuild was the intermediate shaft in-board roller bearing, I saw someone here put on a lot of grease before install which I would never have thought of. I put it in dry. Also I didnt replace anything on the oil pump, the annulus was pitted but I took a big chance. I did check the relief spring because of what happened to your engine. also I had to hand polish every camshaft journals with a shoelace, 1000grit and wd40. The only thing that lets me sleep at night is my VDO mechanical oil pressure gauge. 75psi cold idle & hot cruise, then 25psi hot idle. THe factory switch comes on at what 7psi? How is that helpful? Btw mechanical gauge requires tubing, 3/16" copper nickel with 1/8" reducer at both ends. This line runs under body, made a hole and runs up the dash with as little bends as possible. . Most people would run electric gauge and that's fine with a good clean ground connection so the resistance in the wire doesn't change. But then when does a Lotus have good clean ground? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MD355 Posted May 30, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2020 (edited) I have never installed any gauge before... Ideally, I was thinking that the best location for an oil pressure gauge and a turbo boost gauge on the 2001 Esprit V8 would be just below the stereo.. There is a small tray there and if one could make a support for the two gauges it would be ideal... Furthermore, I was thinking maybe the Lotus oil pressure and turbo boost gauges from the 1998 Esprit V8 could be installed there to make it look OEM.. Any opinions about the proposed location and using the Lotus 1998 gauges ?? Edited May 30, 2020 by Bibs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mightymetro Posted May 31, 2020 Report Share Posted May 31, 2020 I’m just mocking up my gauges and have got the VDO view line as they are close to the original design and have white needles i will install a hidden audio amplifier for music so am using the radio slot. Just waiting for a 3 hole panel to turn up but nearly ready 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM tomcattom Posted May 31, 2020 Gold FFM Report Share Posted May 31, 2020 What gauges have you got there? I can make out what looks like oil temperature and pressure gauges, can't make out the one on the right though. I've never studied the later style dashboard, but I presume these gauges aren't present normally? Quote Norfolk Mustard S4s #1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mightymetro Posted May 31, 2020 Report Share Posted May 31, 2020 No unfortunately all I have is a Speedo, Rev counter, water and fuel the 3 gauges I have are oil pressure, oil temperature and boost Will try and get better photos 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MD355 Posted June 1, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2020 I sure would like to have a chat with the guy that decided that that post 2000 Lotus Esprit V8 cars did not need to have an Oil pressure gauge, oil temperature or boost pressure... What was he thinking ? This is no Mercedes limo... This is a serious performance car where all attributes of the engine need to be monitored !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyblackman777 Posted June 2, 2020 Report Share Posted June 2, 2020 You can get some combined gauges. I.e. oil temp and pressure on the same gauge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MD355 Posted June 3, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2020 A quick poll : I spoke to my mechanic about ordering the oil pressure sender unit that sends the signal to the low oil pressure light ,and he suggested that I drive around and tap on the instrument panel to see if I accidentally loosened any of the cables when I installed the replacement fuel gauge... He thinks I might have moved the cable a bit... He thinks that this is probably is not a true mechanical fault of the engine, rather a fault of the low oil light... The car has been preforming excellently... Should I take my chance and drive around a bit ? (If I do, I will keep it below 4000 rpm not to put too much stress on the oil lubrication system..) Thoughts ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chillidoggy Posted June 3, 2020 Report Share Posted June 3, 2020 Do ya feel lucky? Quote Margate Exotics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mightymetro Posted June 3, 2020 Report Share Posted June 3, 2020 I wouldn’t ....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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