Lancia Beta Forum
March 29, 2024, 01:58:52 AM *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
News: Looking for Lancia Beta parts: www.lanciabetaparts.co.uk
 
   Home   Help Contact Admin Search Calendar Gallery Articles Login Register  
Pages: [1]
  Print  
Author Topic: Oil Pressure & Dipstick  (Read 5921 times)
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
alcarr
Jr. Member
**
Offline Offline

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Posts: 26


« on: April 10, 2014, 11:03:02 PM »

I would appreciate your thoughts re the oil pressure and marking on the dipstick. When I mentioned to Richard Thorne that I was hoping to take the Beta to the Lancia track day in May, he cautioned me regarding the oil pressure warning light, that if it should come on whilst on the track (not idling, presumably) that I should slow down to save the engine. The warning light does come on when I am at traffic lights but goes out when I move off. Also the dipstick is not marked like the one in the handbook, it is a tube which is partially flattened near the end, so is the top end of the flat the full mark? Lastly the engine is a little leaky regarding oil, are they by nature like this or should I be doing some investigation.

Many thanks to you all in advance


Alan
Logged
MattNoVAT
Administrator
Legendary Member
******
Offline Offline

France France

Posts: 1830



« Reply #1 on: April 11, 2014, 06:51:09 AM »

You should be doing some investigation and stopping any oil leaks.

The standard sump is not baffled, so on track or on fast twisting roads oil surge is a problem.


Stopping the oil leaks should be a priority.

Can you attach a photo of your oil dipstick?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Logged

1981 2000 Coupe S2/FL
1976 1600 Coupe S1
2007 Ypsilon 1.3 Bi-Colori
Neil-yaj396
Legendary Member
******
Offline Offline

Posts: 1885


1979 1300 Coupe


« Reply #2 on: April 11, 2014, 07:28:51 AM »

Sounds like the standard stick with the vacuum reader pipe? If so the top of the flatted area is 'full'.
Logged
smithymc
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 666


« Reply #3 on: April 11, 2014, 08:27:17 AM »

Also beware modern and lighter oil grades.

When I first ran my long-dormant engine with new oil(10-40), I had the' oil pressure light at idle' issue too. You really need ( Guy Croft confirms this in his book) an oil with 50 as the high temp( second) number. I use a classic 20- 50 now - problem sorted.  15-50 is harder to get, but is what my 1977 handbook quotes. You can buy a basic 20-50 for Wilko and other places for about a tenner to test the theory- cheaper than a re-build!

It wont sort the oil starvation issue though!

Good luck!

Mark
Logged
rossocorsa
Legendary Member
******
Offline Offline

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Posts: 2373


« Reply #4 on: April 12, 2014, 01:20:31 PM »

I would refresh the oil pressure sensors  they are bound to be old and possibly out of spec at least then you will know if the readings are right. Oil light coming on at idle would concern me a bit I think it is not normal even with modern oils
« Last Edit: April 12, 2014, 01:42:36 PM by rossocorsa » Logged
abgwin
Full Member
***
Offline Offline

United States United States

Posts: 60


« Reply #5 on: April 20, 2014, 04:40:11 PM »

Reading this made me re-read the owner's manual for my 81. For what it's worth, it specifically mentions that the light coming on when warm and idling is "normal".

On the other hand, it makes no mention of how the oil level gauge works, though I've heard several people refer to it. Is there a button that should do this? Or does this not apply to US-spec 2.0 FI models?
Logged
Neil-yaj396
Legendary Member
******
Offline Offline

Posts: 1885


1979 1300 Coupe


« Reply #6 on: April 20, 2014, 07:10:57 PM »

On most post facelift cars (and this included my 2000ie) the oil level guage is in the bottom right hand corner under oil temperature. You press the button under the guage to get a reading. On my ie I think it used to under read a bit, but on my 1300 it seems to be spot on.

It works by vacuum activated by the button via the pipe to the top of the dipstick. I'm guessing the pipe has been removed from your car?
Logged
rossocorsa
Legendary Member
******
Offline Offline

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Posts: 2373


« Reply #7 on: April 20, 2014, 08:37:05 PM »

For what it's worth, it specifically mentions that the light coming on when warm and idling is "normal".

I think this really only applies when an Italian has thrashed it around the Alps to within an inch of its life!
Logged
abgwin
Full Member
***
Offline Offline

United States United States

Posts: 60


« Reply #8 on: April 20, 2014, 09:56:16 PM »

On most post facelift cars (and this included my 2000ie) the oil level guage is in the bottom right hand corner under oil temperature. You press the button under the guage to get a reading. On my ie I think it used to under read a bit, but on my 1300 it seems to be spot on.

It works by vacuum activated by the button via the pipe to the top of the dipstick. I'm guessing the pipe has been removed from your car?

The bottom right isn't a gauge, it's the seat belt warning light. Top right is hazard warning light. Oil pressure is middle top, engine temp is lower middle. Owner's manual says right button is rheostat for switch lighting, middle button is trip odometer reset, left button is rheostat for gauge lighting and system check.

Am I missing something, or is 81 and later different?
Logged
HFStuart
Legendary Member
******
Offline Offline

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Posts: 1906



« Reply #9 on: April 20, 2014, 11:33:55 PM »

I think that might be a US spec thing. It's certainly a gauge in my pre F/L and road test pics of later Euro cars show it as a gauge too.

Sadly the two Road & Track tests I can find don't show the instruments.
Logged
abgwin
Full Member
***
Offline Offline

United States United States

Posts: 60


« Reply #10 on: April 21, 2014, 01:16:53 AM »

For reference, my instrument panel:

Logged
Neil-yaj396
Legendary Member
******
Offline Offline

Posts: 1885


1979 1300 Coupe


« Reply #11 on: April 21, 2014, 08:47:46 AM »

Here's the European spec dash as described by Stuart and myself, plus the pipe arrangement from the hollow dipstick. It was exactly the same on my '83 ie. Obviously omitted from US spec cars. My pre facelift 1300 has the hazard warning in the same place as yours, but the heated rear window light where you have a seatbelt warning. Different instrument faces too, as you have your 'green zone' for revs (economy?) and your '55' mph reminder, very Ralph Nader!


* IMG00483-20140421-0832.jpg (235.04 KB, 2048x1536 - viewed 594 times.)

* IMG00484-20140421-0833.jpg (226.55 KB, 2048x1536 - viewed 649 times.)
« Last Edit: April 21, 2014, 08:56:03 AM by Neil-yaj396 » Logged
Pages: [1]
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.21 | SMF © 2015, Simple Machines
SMFAds for Free Forums
Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!