I recently purchased a 2 bearing engine for my 1935 austin pearl, I followed the standard pre-check and oiling protocol , however the oil pressure gauge was right over at 10 lbs. per squ. inch, I removed the 2 brass inspection bolts to observe oil circulation and threaded wire through the 2 jets and reassembled , however the oil pressure is still at 10 psi, I don't know the history of the engine, so would like advice. Thanks, James

Location: Qualicum, B.C.

James,
It is quite normal for the oil pressure to exceed 10 psi on start up, when the oil is cold. As the engine warms up the oil pressure will start to drop.
J

Location: As far east in Kent as you can get

I had the same worries when I first started a rebuilt engine. The oil pressure was up around 18-24 psi until I'd done 3 or 4 miles whereon it would settle down to around 5psi.

Location: Ripon

Hello James

As others have said, oil pressure with cold oil can be off the scale of the Austin gauge. Even multigrade oil changes viscosity quite considerably with temperature. With my 1936 2-bearing Pearl I find it takes a mile or two of running to come down below 10 PSI. Running pressure with fully hot oil is then around 5 PSI , dropping to around 1 PSI at idle.

I keep an unofficial register of Austin Seven Pearls, and I would be very interested to know your car number (ACxxxx), chassis number etc if it is not already on the A7CA register. You might like to know that there are roughly 100 of the early AC Pearls and another 100 of the later ACA Pearls still surviving. This works out as a 5% survival rate which is quite impressive.

Best regards

John

Location: New Forest