Hi Guys, To cut a long story short I've just purchased a 1988 Celica ST (ST162) for a charity event in Australia (The Sh1tbox Rally). The S.box Rally is not a race, rather a challenge to drive cars worth $1,000 across Australia via some of its most arduous roads, all in the name of charity. The 2015 rally will start in Canberra, ACT and travels a little over 3,600kms to Townsville via the Birdsville Track and the Simpson Desert. There are a few things we need to do to the car to make sure it can at least do the 3,600 Kms but one thing that is bothering me is the oil presure gauge which showing high as in very high once the engine warms up. I am hoping it's something simple and if is a sign that the car will self destruct I am kind of hoping it will at least last the distance. I guess my question is, whats a normal reading for this gauge and is there anything I can check to test the sender, etc?. Thanks in advance. Fred
Model? Engine? km's? Normally the gauge will sit halfway and move when the revs go up Does it move according to revs? As an old hand with these (and knowing sellers) at that price I would do the following: Complete flush of the motor, radiator, heater etc - use antifreeze & new thermostat New head gasket New rings Flush oil, use 20w-50 and seal restorer in the oil with new filter. Flush the brake lines Replace the seals on the timing end, oil pump, cams, crank etc New plugs and fuel filter New gearbox oil Check CV's and boots New timing belt and check the tensioners for noise/play Injector cleaner in the fuel to clean up the injectors New air filter Fly me over to crew for you ps. Due to age I suggest you pack a decent tool kit and a bag of the following spares - Coil, distributor, water pump, cambelt tensioners, p/s & alt belts, the 2 radiator hoses (if you can get these spares cheap or from a scrappy) pps. Don't trust the temp gauge!! 1/2 way is max and many blow h/g thinking the motor is cool, I changed my gauges to prevent this happening again http://www.st162.net/forum/showthre...ore-jdm-oddities&p=43215&viewfull=1#post43215
Try another oil sender? I would take it for a long shakedown 1st, these are famous for H/G problems and 400km would be an achievement, never mind 4000km Don't use ATF in the box, most have bad syncro's due to ATF being too thin. Run 80W90 or higher for a much smoother box. Toyota did use ATF but in later years changed to 80W after the syncro problems arose
