craigrb123

Hi everyone, I’m new here, has anyone had any oil pressure problems when vtec is engaged
mine is dropping 30-40 psi any suggestions welcome

thanks in advance
Craig

windhund116

Has the engine been worked on or been modified?

Thanks!

craigrb123

Hi yes it’s dry sump uprated pistons and rods ported head but everything else is standard set up
I’ve bin trying to get to the bottom of this for some time it’s as if it’s leaking somehow when in vtec
I’m aware that they do need a lot more pressure when vtec is in use but I’ve got a 30-40 psi drop and some times vtec does not even engage

windhund116

Any camshaft or other top-end work? Maybe an oil leak within the VTEC actuating oil galley?

craigrb123

standard cam shafts all standard top end
like you say maybe an oil leek but how could you ever test for this or even see a problem such as that

windhund116

Does the dash oil pressure light come on when the car enters VTEC? How are you measuring the pressure? Have you tried another gauge?

Could the readings be wrong? Have you tried another sending unit?

When you are at the correct RPMs for VTEC, does the car feel like VTEC is engaged? It seems you would not have enough oil pressure to keep VTEC engaged.

Thanks!

windhund116

Are you using 5W-30 or 10W-30 oil? Is the level fine?

craigrb123

it’s on aim digital dash I have changed the sender and both the same readings the light has never come on as the pressure is still at say 40psi during vtec but that’s to low , sometimes it engages vtec somtimes it dosnt
As soon as vtec is out the presure is strait back up to 80psi at say 7500 revs
I use 10-60 oil
it’s dry sump system so oil level is always ok

windhund116

Why are you using 10W-60 oil? Are you racing the car?

Thanks!

engifineer

I would question if there is proper flow to each part of the engine with that high of a viscosity oil. I would also question if the higher viscosity oil is not creating higher pressure yet poor flow. The pressure is not being measured at the exit of an oil journal, yet prior to that in the system. So it can be possible to read high pressure and still have terrible flow to portions of the engine. I am not sure I would trust any pressure readings in terms of them showing good oiling with a very high viscosity oil. Maybe there is something I am missing on this setup but I think this is by far the highest viscosity oil I have heard anyone running in a tracked S2000. I cannot say for certain if that is too far above spec to damage the motor since I am not sure if it has been tested. But it does seem unnecessarily high.

Have you tried running 10w-30 or 10w-40 and seen the same fluctuation in pressure?