I recently bought a '70 280 SEL. I only drove it five miles so far...from the place that I bought it. The problem is that the oil pressure is pegged out and the car backfires. The engine runs fine, but I would like some advice on where the problem lies so that I can fix it. What is causing the oil pressure build up?

The oil pressure gauge should be pegged, at least when the engine is above idle. It might dip as low as the first tick mark above zero when idling at operating temperature, but it should peg when you step on the gas pedal.

I'd start by checking ignition timing if it's backfiring.

Sixto
91 300SE

Thanks...I originally thought it was the timing, but when I noticed that the guage was pegged out, I assumed it may have something to do with the oil pressure. I will reset the timing then and see if that fixes the problem.

Derrick

As a rule Mecedes Benz vehicles oil pressure gauges pegs the meter or something is wrong. At idle the pressure should read about 15psi.

Currently, as soon as the engine is started, the oil pressure pegs out...even at idle the pressure is high. Should I be worried about this?

Not at all. Cold oil will cause higher pressure.

In the 78 450SEL I used to have, the oil pressure gauge would read 10-20 psi when I cranked the engine during a compression test.

You're probably familiar with full scale oil pressure gauges in other cars. MB uses about a third scale gauge. If it went to 10 or 100, depending on whether yours is a 1-2-3 bar or 10-20-30 psi gague, it would act as you'd expect and oil pressure gauge to act.

Sixto
91 300SE

Thanks...I am new to the Mercedes and I wasn't sure. I guess it is better to be safe than sorry though. I will get the timing set tonight and get back to the thread as to how it works....Thanks again guys

Derrick