Track day loss of oil pressure

[euro dave]

Joe and I took the MK2 to Abingdon at the end of September for the first proper track session.  Problem was that after 3 heavy laps the oil temp went above 115 and we experienced a loss of pressure - to the point that the oil pressure light came on and our gauge was showing around 5-10psi.  We let the car cool for half an hour and the pressure came back (around 80 psi).

First thing to do is change the oil to a decent semi-synthetic, but is this enough?  We found that above 110 degrees the oil pressure started to drop off.  We did the entire day in 3 or 4 lap stints, changing up at around 5k rpm.  Not as exciting as it should have been but the corners were a blast!

[Paul86S2]

At abingdon we usualy get 116 degrees plus oil temp after 6 laps plus. Car is a Mk3 ABF though. What oil are you running?

Might be worth running an oil cooler, from what I've researced you will need at least a 19 row cooler not the bog standard 13 row cooler.

With a 19 row cooler from what researched you shouldn't get above 110 degrees.

Trouble is you don't want to install an oil cooler to mask another underlying problem.

Might be worth installing a new oil temp and pressure sensor and a good aftermarket one of both to confirm the readings for peace of mind.

How did you find Abingdon - the chicanes are good fun.

Paul

[Horney]

Something sounds a bit amiss as I've run my 8v up to 120 on the oil temp and not suffered any significant pressure drop. I would replace your oil pump as it sounds like it's performance is dropping off as the oil thins more than it should do.

nick

[Pike]

8v or 16v?

[Diamond Hell]

It's an 8V IIRC, on Digifant.

Been wrong before, mind.

[Pike]

If the symptoms you describe were happening to my 8v I'd be looking at a new oil pump. It's also worth thinking about running a windage tray/baffled sump setup whilst the sump is dropped.

110 degrees isn't an excessive temperature, however i would consider running an oil cooler as Paul suggested.
I've abandoned the VW water/oil setup and just use a 13-row Mocal setup, with the cooler positioned where the driving lamp should be on the driver's side. At a hot Silverstone this year my car finished the race with an oil temp of 112.

Which oil are you using? I've yet to find a better replacement for good old Synta Silver.

[VeeDubGTI16v]

pike, slightly off topic but what oil cooler housing are you using to delete the water cooler?

[Pike]

I've joined the redundant water pipes and used a Mocal sandwich plate without an oil stat.
There used to be a chap on ebay selling the kits for around £100 with the mounting hardware, plate and cooler. IIRC you had the choice of braided or rubber lines too.

[VeeDubGTI16v]

yeah i have all those bits, i trial fitted the oil filter and sandwich plate without the water cooler and the oil filter bottomed out on the thread before it touched the sandwich plate. was just wondering how you got around this?

[Horney]

Can you not just chop a bit of the filter thread?

Nick