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Triumph TR3 - Oil Pressure

Gents, New to the Triumph Tr3 (1956)owned two months. Rebuilt motor with 87mm pistons, unsure of exact miles since rebuild but runs strong and smooth and does not seem to burn oil. I'm getting 55 lbs.per once warm and running above 2k rpm and 30 lbs. pressure at idle. This on a 75 degree (f) day - nice winters in Arizona. The oil looks to be 20/50w (guess). How does this measure up with your experiences?
Pat b

Should be enough pressure to keep your motor running. You're bound to change your oil soon so you know what weight's in there. If you don't need multigrade, a straight 30 or 40 might be better. When the oil thins out too much on my cars, I hear the rods complain a little. Only under load. Hope this gives you a bit to go on.
Tom

I use Castrol 20W50 from April to October up here in the North East. My oil figures are just about like yours, so no need to concern yourself if you choose an oil that gives these same oil pressures down there. I've done over 82,000 miles since I re-built my engine with a change of con rod and main bearing insert shells at 40,000 miles. Sane new pistons, rigns and liners for 82,000 miles.

Don Elliott, Original Owner, 1958 TR3A
TS 27489 LO with total 162,000 miles from new
Photo below from VTR 2001 in Colorado
http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/trebor/don3a_big.JPG
Don Elliott

Don,,Thanks for the comment. I finally found the oil pressure comment in the manual and it's well within specs. I was actually misreading a bit too it's more like 60psi at speed. Why did you have to change the bearing shells at 40K?
Pat B

Way back in 1955, Ken Richardson The TR Works Competition Manager wrote to change them every 30,000 miles, so when I decided to put in a modern rear main bearing seal design, I had the crank re-ground and put in all new shells inserts.

Don Elliott
Don Elliott

Don, Interesting. Were you 'campaigning' your car or was this rec for all tr's? How did the old shells spec out on removal? Also, I noted in the archives mention of an English gent that was having some original spec Tr3 brooklands screens made a few years back. Did that get accomplished and is there present day source? Hope all is well with you. Pat
P R Ballogg

This thread was discussed between 25/01/2005 and 30/01/2005

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