Oil Pressure. Is your mind open?

[Bob Parmenter]

Happy New Year all!!

Given the nature of an internet web site, what with the ebb and flow of people as they move about it, old subjects resurface from time to time. One of the things that seems to happen here with quite a bit of regularity are questions aimed at problem solving. Usually what happens is the person with the problem throws out the symptom as he sees it. Depending on his level of experience it might be a helpful description, or it may be so brief as to offer little to no clue as to what's really going on. If this person has some level of experience they may share some of the diagnosis that they've done. This of course is more helpful and will aid those who wish to contribute a solution. Unfortunately we more often get the "My car won't start. What do you think is wrong?" kind of post.

Problem solving takes a systematic approach. That means that in order to get to the real problem/solution it takes information gathering. What usually happens here, and elsewhere for that matter, is that folks are willing and eager to be helpful. This usually means that they start throwing out solutions to the apparent problem based on their own experience. And since we each have a variety of experiences in our "kit" the second, third, fourth, and so on, responders throw out different possibilities.

Now don't get me wrong here. I'm not trying to discourage folks from being helpful to a poster. Far from it. The more folks that participate the better. But I would suggest that we make a better effort to pry more information from the person with the problem before we start throwing stuff against the wall to see what sticks. I know, some of us have tried this (right Richard?) and have either been insulted or, more likely, ignored. After all, the questioner who started the thread came for answers, not questions. Hint to the person looking for solutions...........people will be more willing to help you if you don't "dust them off".

Now to get to the point of my headline. Oil pressure is one of those things that seems simple enough, but has more behind it than most people realize. If you're one of those folks that already knows it all, or have a slavish devotion to the notion that more is better, then let me apologize for taking up so much of your time so far, and tell you to stop reading this post any further as the information provided will not fit your beliefs.

This first link gives a brief but succinct description of oil pressure.

http://lubricants.s5.com/oil_pressure.htm

This next one is more thorough and reveals some great information to keep in mind as you approach the subject of oil pressure and the variables that affect it.

http://members.aol.com/carleyware/library/us1097.htm

And finally a link to a previous post we had here. I've gone back to the link within the first post and noticed that "The Butcher" has edited it somewhat since I originally attached it. In the original he told how his oil pressure gauge indicated plenty of pressure, right up to the point of failure, both times! And yes, the gauge was accurate. Also within the replies it will appear that Mr Fixit and I had a major disagreement, but by the end we found more common ground than not.

http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/sho...il%2A+pressure

[Don Meyer]

Happy New Year.
Don