Volvo oil pressure gauge deviation

[Sandy1949]

Same engine, owned 4 years. Your oil pressures seem normal to me. Heavier load does seem to raise the pressure. I switched to Full Synthetic 15W40 last year, and oil pressure is slightly higher than with mineral oil 15W40 of same brand, Shell Rotella, and right on engine manual specs at lower and higher RPMs. Interestingly, smoking at start up is almost gone, engine runs quieter and smoother, same instant start up as always. Volvo, of course, says to use only Volvo products, but both Shell and Exxon full synthetics are approved for a Volvo use code, which may or not apply to TAMD41s. (2005 engine, 1700 hours) Great engine. Shell and Exxon full synthetic information sheets on their web sites are very interesting.

My program of using Valv-Tect fuel when available, Biobor JF algaecide (hot, humid climate!), full synthetic at manual viscosity (15W40) is working. I cut open my old primary filter when changed annually to inspect - looks like new. No water or foreign material in Primary filter bulbs.

 

[Sandy1949]

Googler - thanks for mentioning the manual, always a good starting point! I keep Volvo manual oil pressure, alternator output and temperature range on a small piece of paper at the base of my compass, a reminder of the right numbers so that I am sure to not only look at my gauges, but to affirm that I'm operating on spec for all three gauges. It matters.

 

[oldgit]

41 series all variants.
Mineral oil only ?

 

[Kingruar]

Hi all thanks for the replies!

I'm going to carry on using it as is.

The manual does say the operating range of the pressure is up to 500kpa (72psi) hence the original post

For information the new oil was Volvo 15-40w as per the book and the filter is OEM also. I do remember checking that I had the right container as it's viscosity seemed thick.

Perhaps next service I may try a Mann filter with more capacity and see what happens then and post an update on here. Or for the sake of boredom I may just do it sooner if I get a moment.


Regarding the relief valve, I can't see anything that looks adjustable on the side of the pump, any advice here? I'm inclined to leave it at the moment as my hunch is toward a filter change for pressure adjustment.