Low oil presure when cold on tick over

[David Maddock]

Hi, I have an S2 and the oil presure is low (0.7 bar) on tick over, particularly when cold. I have checked with a gauge, it is 2.5 bar at running revs. Zero on he gauge at tickover when cold, about 25% on the gauge at tick over when hot, solid in the white zone when driving. At tick over when hot such as in a traffic jam the gauge drops to near zero and I can get some tappet noise.
I am using 20/50 oil. Should I be using 10/30?
I am also wondering if there may be sludge in the sump restricting the strainer untill the pump rearly starts suckling at revs.
I think the engine has done about 140,000 but compression is good, between 8 and 9 bar all round.

All ideas gratefully recieved.

[Philip Edginton]

When reading your post I must admit to being very worried about the end bit, hearing tappets.
I can only suggest that you stop using the car until the engine has had a checkup at the workshop on the oil pump etc, before expensive damage is done, such as the crankshaft or camshaft. good compressions only shows the lack of wear in the bores at the moment.
Or you could just do an engine flush and then cary on, but do keep the gold amex card ready in your pocket.

[John Robins]

This thread seems to have gone a bit quiet, David. What have you done in respect of the engine?