Lancia Motor Club

Hi All,

My oil pressure gauge seems to behave itself most of the time.  Shows max pressure anywhere after 1500 rpm and tick over somewhere between halfway and the red.
However, hot or cold, when at the max mark it suddenly jumps well past it anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of minutes and then flicks back to the max mark.

Past experience tells me that the oil pressure relief valve may be a bit sticky.
Good oil pressure is always to be encouraged but excess pressure can do more harm than good.

I can't tell from any publication where exactly this is located on a 815 300 engine.  Anyone shine a light as to where it is?

Cheers,  Peter

Hello Peter, don't quote me on this but,  I would expect it to be near the oil filter housing,

Big nut below filter in filter housing. Dont rule out pressure sender unit giving random output. This is on same filter housing hidden behind the filter and the cylinder block....

Ignore this. I was looking thinking Fulvia not Flavia!!

What model Flavia are we talking about?

Possibly the instrument if it's electric? Is it electric or is there an oil line to the instrument itself?
Chris

My 1800 single carb. model, when hot, shows virtually zero oil pressure and holds a comfortable halfway position at 3500rpm. I was told this is fairly typical .... please would someone reassure me that this is correct ..... OR ..... give me notice that I am due (overdue?) an engine rebuild!!!

                                Andy

Andy, this photo might be reassuring!

Colin

If it's in any way similar to the Fulvia set up don't you have to be careful removing the pressure relief valve because the bolt and big spring will come flying out?

Well I dont have a pic but my Vignale inezione has comfortable oil pressure above 50% when (very) hot and above 2000 rpm (also dont have a pic of mine at indicated 100, gps 92).

It is a liquid pressure gauge on these cars. I always put a normal pressure gauge in the line if I am worried as generally the instrumentation is not accurate. Flavia bottom ends are very strong...you would dull knocking or worse if the bearings are worn. First port of call is to drain the oil and remove the oil pump if you have low pressure but no knocking. If you look carefully you can seen evidence of bearing failure in the old oil if drained hot.

Colin's photo reminds me of (I think) a  Classic and Sports Car test of the Flavia Sport owned by (name eludes me...) the guy who has a high end leather goods business.  The line was something like "it always feels happier at 85 than 70". 

Bill Amberg' Flavia Sport..... He was at Covent Garden 2006 and kindly told me the colour of his car which was identical to my Fulvia Sport which I was restoring at the time. Grigio Inglewood...
https://howtospendit.ft.com/mens-style/36493-aesthete-bill-amberg-part-1

BTW it seems Lancias were designed to run at 4000 all day as smoothest point. Shame about domestic speed limits...

The car in question is a 1963 Series 1 PF Coupe.  It has an 815 300 1.8 engine.

The parts book from Omicron shows what appears to be relevant parts with numbers, but no descriptions, seems they left that bit out, not very helpful !

Having just marks for full,half and disaster, you certainly have to have confidence to run at max revs.

Thanks all for your comments, interesting discussions, shall investigate further.

Peter