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MG TD TF 1500 - Showing zero oil pressure

I went for a ride today (58, top down in NC). Glanced at the oil gauge half way home... at zero. No way. 20-30 maybe. Dead nuts all the way down at zero oil pressure, not likely. I pulled over, checked the dip stick, peeked in at the rockers, looked for a steaming puddle...

I started her up and gave the dash a thumping and the gauge popped right up to 55.

I'll check the lines but it looks like the gauge is going wonky. I hate when stuff gets wonky.

.....
MAndrus

Yeah, I found my oil gauge sticking a couple of years back. Our instruments are getting old...
Geoffrey M Baker

flush the line, and check for gunk in the gauge where the line connects. A bad gauge had me frustrated for a few months on a new rebuild.
Bruce TD4139 Cunha

Cant be absolutely certain however I believe there is a "snubber" installed in the pressure gauge inlet port to dampen pressure fluctuations. The snubbers fine orifice could become blocked, usually these are threaded into the ID of the port and can be removed for cleaning.
G Evans

My TD has had issues in the past with the oil pump not priming when the engine starts. So a wise friend prescribed the following:

Switch OFF, pull the starter for 2-4 second bursts until the gauge shows oil pressure rising, then switch ON and start the engine. Usuall takes 8-10 starter bursts wth the switch off to get the oil pressure to rise.

Erick Blackwelder
Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington DC
EB Blackwelder

To cure that 'stiction' I had to open up the gauge and put a tiny amount of instrument oil on the mechanism. It's a Bourdon movement. Before that I just got into the habit of tapping the glass. Bud
Bud Krueger

Erick - you can easily let the starter buzz for 10 seconds at a time with no overheating or damage; no need to fumble with shorter bursts.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

Was the issue resolved? What was the cause? PJ
Paul161

This thread was discussed between 31/01/2016 and 04/02/2016

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