Hello everyone.
I'm new to this site and to Mercedes diesels. I just bought an '80 300D on Friday. When the engine starts the oil pressure goes up quickly and pegs at 3(?). I pulled the oil filler cap off with the engine running and could see that the oil pipe is delivering oil to the cam. I change the oil and filter yesterday and the gauge still pegged. Is the only place the pressure is read at the filter element housing? Any ideas? Is this normal pressure?

Thanks,
burnan

__________________
burnan
1993 2.5 turbo

Normal at any speed above idle.

__________________
Fred Johnson
1977 240D
1983 300SD

Yes, the oil pressure is measured at only one place. Full pressure is normal when cold at idle and engine speed over 1500 RPM. When engine is hot oil pressure should be about 1/3 to 1/2 full scale on the gage when the engine is idleing.

When you don't have full pressure at high engine speed is when you have problems.

P E H

When the engine/oil is cold, the pressure will read 3 bar at idle. Once the oil is up to operating temp, the pressure will read as low as 1.5 bar, at idle. Then once the rpms get up to 1200-1500 the pressure should hit 3 bar again.

__________________
1999 MB SL500 (110,000 mi)
2004 Volvo V70 2.5T (220,000 mi)
2014 Tesla Model S 85 (136,000 mi)
MBCA member