Stricken oil! Leak from oil pressure sensor?

[poxxxy]

So seems I've struck oil again... This time it looks like it might be coming out of the oil pressure sensor itself as I tried tightening it up to no avail. Seems its coming out the middle diaphram perhaps?

Don't suppose anyone knows where I can get one say tomorrow without ringing around a few places? I guess any thats M14 * 1.5 and the right length/connection and switching pressure (upto about .53 bar?).

[Gadge]

Not sure but how about trying your local motor factors or ever halfords. I bet it's quite a common part that's used across a few ranges of cars

[poxxxy]

Going to try a few places tomorrow... i'm starting to question whether the fuel pump is leaking and thinning out the oil at the minute which may have contributed a little to release the oil. Or that I may have perhaps overfilled slightly... but i'm sure I didn't! Found a replacement on ebay for £6 but hope I can get one locally tomorrow!

[gammakeith]

If its any help, Ducati motorcycles suffer with leaking oil pressure switches so its not unknown....

Keith

[baron_matt]

Not unknown for the oil pressure switches to blow out their centres.

I had this too, looked on ebay, found new switch, bought and fitted it. Problem solved.

[poxxxy]

Got one ordered from ebay as local motor factors are refusing to pick up the phone! Cheers for the advice baron_matt and reassurance keith .

[baron_matt]

No problemo!

It is one one the easier things to tackle, but do it with the engine cold is my advice, otherwise you are likely to burn your hand on the exhaust.

[poxxxy]

I have a feeling the root cause has been thinned down oil from petrol from the pump :'(. Another thing to sort and something to take the car off the road for!

[Mics126]

switches do go commonly. vauxhalls seriously suffer from it.

Mike

[baron_matt]

I have a feeling the root cause has been thinned down oil from petrol from the pump :'(. Another thing to sort and something to take the car off the road for!

That is a bit of an unusual theory. I suspect if the pump was leaking that much it would struggle to get fuel to the carb.

Why do you think that petrol is thinning out your oil?

[poxxxy]

Well I filled the engine oil up to half way before... after about 30 miles... all it needs is a litre of fuel I guess but the oil level was as high as it would allow... put the dipstick in... and the dipstick made the oil level rise up to meet the rubber bung on the stick.

Oil seems to lose viscosity quite quickly at anything higher than cold... possibly smells of fuel... but its definitely thinned out more than it should be stuff was like water and dripped a bit on block which seems to have evaporated... yet the pool from my dad being hasty with the oil can is still on the block lol.

Low oil pressure light is ok from cold... but as engine heats up oil pressure drops and diaphram in the pressure sensor must be failing...

Don't really want to keep running it to see if its definately leaking into the engine though as its only going to do damage if it is the case... and seems to be quite a common problem. Especially as this car was stood for over 10 years before I had it running.

Fuel filter does seem to be sucking up air bubbles too but providing enough fuel for the carb just about. Having already replaced fuel pipes to the tank I know theres not an air leak on that side...

Don't want to encourage possible blow by on my new rings!