Low oil pressure

[Ghostrider1]

Whe I first start the trike I have 45 lbs pressure. You drive about 5 miles and it drops to 3 lbs at a Idle, and I have installed a high pressure oil spring kit. I am running 20W50 thought about switching to 20w because they had 30w in it when I got it. Any ideas folk? All help totally appreciated.

 

[Sidecarbill]

It's not unusual for the oil light to flicker at idle. The oil cooler works off of oil pressure or lack of actually. It's not a good idea to try thicker oil to fix. I run 15/40 rottella in mine. My idle pressure is about the same as yours. Heavy spring kit does nothing. We have a really good guy on vw's here he may have something to say about it. The best thing to do is throw the gauge away it's only gonna worry ya.

 

[rhino 2]

The best thing to do is throw the gauge away it's only gonna worry ya.

Exactly….My 2011 triglide had a oil pressure gauge… it was read almost Zero at idle…And I just ignored it…And i never had a problem in almost 60 thousand miles when I traded it in for a 2017 triglide which didn’t have a oil gauge to worry about…

 

[DeathBySnuSnu]

The VW oil system is a little odd because of how the cooler is tied in.

To make it simpler to understand .... that s will be in very general terms.

VW assumed.

Cold oil = higher pressure = no cooler.

Hot oil = lower pressure = flow to cooler.

What is determining high/low pressure is the spring on that regulator piston.

So.

Stiffer spring = higher pressure = no oil cooler.

You do not want the high pressure spring kit (maybe for drag racing).

The accepted standard for VW oil pressure is 10lbs per 1000rpm.

So at 800rpm idle an engine in newish shape should have 8psi. Then say at a 3200rpm highway cruise it should have 32lbs.

Add some age and wear to bearings, pump and the bore that pressure piston is in you will have lower pressure, especially at idle.

Extra thick oil (such as 20w 50) helps on a worn engine.

If it is a stockish engine and has good enough cruise pressure.....I would not worry about it. I would put the stock pressure spring back in it so the oil don't overheat.

 

[Ghostrider1]

thanks to all you VW veteran experts. I am so used to working on V-8 engines. Still learning about these air cooled motors. Thank you Gentlemen

 

[Burnerboy]

Interest'n info here: thanks' guys

Ronnie

4/23/23