At 01:25 PM 5/25/97 -0400, Bob Gaughan wrote:
>Took my '61 MGA 1600 out for its first "long trip"- 40 miles out and
>back at highway speed of about 50-60 MPH. The temperature stayed right
>around 190 degrees and the oil pressure at 30. Toward the end, about a
>mile from home, after I got off the highway, the pressure went down to
>around 0. I got it home, it was down about 1/2 to 3/4 a quart. Filled
>it up, started it up and I was running around 30 on the oil pressure
>again.
>
>It leaks a little around the spin-on adapter (I haven't been able to get
>it to stop that), and it seemed that at 50-60 MPH it was pushing oil
>from the valve cover gasket.
>
>Driving around town on the back roads, the pressure stays around 25 to
>35. It seems that if I take it out on the highway, I lose a lot more
>oil.
>
>I'm going to put a new gasket on the Valve cover. What sort of
>"sealant" should I use on the gasket? How tight the two bolts?
>
>Any other thoughts?
>
>Thanks.
>Bob Gaughan
>
Bob, I'm not one for technical, but your pressure is too low. Leaks aren't
the cause. I would at a minimum replace the oil pump and rod bearings. I
assume the pressure gage is all right, they usually are. I also assume the
pressure relief valve is okay.
Mike
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