Quick question about oil pressures...

[Gerard <gerard@poboxes.com>]

Hi!

Just one seemingly stupid question about oil pressures while driving.
What behaviour on the oil pressure gauge indicates proper working
oil system: fluctuates between 1.8 and 4.5 bar, ~1.8 bar at idle,
~4.5 bar at first-start ice-cold idle, ~4 bar highway driving (120kph),
between 2 bar and 4 bar normal stop/start and slow moving driving?

Just would like to know as my oil pressure has indicated < 1.0bar
at hot idle and sometimes maxes out at 3.0 bar at WOT since I had
an oil leak (gasket, turbo oil return line) fixed last year. The car
went to have a checkup on what needs to be done to make the motor
stock again and the first thing I was told was that I need a new oil
pump ($245 - $325 for new OE one!). Symptoms were the low pressure
(with some jumping needle fluctuation at idle), noisy lifters even when
hot, occassional backfire and pathetic performance for a turbo motor.
Yesterday I did an oil and filter change. Used only Audi agent filter
and put in Castrol Futron 20W60 part-syth oil (about $20 for the kit,
add $4 for filter strap wrench, so $24). The Duckhams synthetic that
went in last year (Nov/Dec) came out filthy! After the change I noticed
quiet lifters (minor tick at hot idle, barely audible above whatever
ticking is coming from under the car!!!), cold idle pressure is full
4.0 - 4.5bar, hot idle is ~1.8bar and highway running goes to ~4.0bar.
The fluctuating between the 2 limits at pull off and slow run is what
I recall from when I first got the car. Still have some sort of power
loss, might be gearbox; I have a hum when I sometimes put the 'box in
neutral or park at cold/hot idle. Tough time getting to 160km/h or
170km/h, even 1.6L Toyota Conquests seem to stick with the accellerating
turbo car. Might be related to visibly-split engine mounts and perhaps
stuffed up EM.

Anyway, sorry for the stupid blurb, please let me know what "normal"
looks like again on the oil pressure gauge.

TIA.

G.

PS: Got offered MC Gen-1 motor from later model 200 for under $2000,
    comes with 2-piece EM and K26. Some bits missing. So it looks like
    I'll be able to get a 2-piece EM for $280!
-- 
"a thousand miles from here, there is another person smiling"
1990 Turbo [200t fwd auto mac13a ECU 1.4-1.6 bar]
name   : gerard van vught
tel    : +27-21-696 0331 (h) / 082 923 9609 (cell)
url    : http://www.poboxes.com/gerard/
e-mail : gerard@poboxes.com  / han.solo@galaxycorp.com
         gerard@mosaic.co.za (work)