My oil light is refusing to go out .It cames on after around 4 laps of Mallory yesterday. Previously to this the light had appeared coming in to Russells and wouldnt disappear. I am running a Mocal cooler and uprated pump and 20/50. Prior to buying the car, the last owner had fitted new bottom end bearings. When I bought it I had running problems which meant running in was limited to a couple of blasts up an alley, half a lap of snetterton and a rolling road check up at Willshers. Is it possible I have destroyed the bearings by thrashing it round Snetterton for 30 laps (it was a coldish day and water didn't get above 60 degrees)? Any other suggestions?

think you need to be fitting a gauge too make sure the oil light aint playing tricks on you.

Its got an electric gauge but I think its duff as it reads 20psi with the ignition on and the engine off! This rises to around 30psi indicated when started. I did borrow a professional external gauge which indicated between 35 and 65 psi depending on revs (allowing the engine to warm up to 85 degrees water) otherwise I wouldn't have bothered turning up at Mallory. I changed the pressure switch to eliminate that. Also removed the pump at the track and loaded the relief valve up to try to get round it. It doesn't sound rattly but didn't want to risk it. I will be sorting the car's gauge for a capillary type. Going to drop the sump off and inspect the bearings next.

Chris

If I were you I'd fit the capilary oil pressure gauge first and see what the oil pressure is like. It might just be your pressure is fine and the gauge is fooked.

Just in case you do need to check the bearings, you can drop the sump with the engine still fitted in case you didn't know, but you'll need a split dust plate. Makes a 2 hour job a 20 minute one!

Did try the external gauge as described which read between 30 and 60 psi at operating temperature. Having spoken to the previous owner it now transpires that the engine was a spare so therefore hadn't been tested. Next port of call will be the sump and pickup pipe. Any experience of Caterham sumps as an alternative?