High Oil Pressure and Elevation

[rick3000]

Hi,
I just got back from a leisurely drive up to the ski resort and back in my '99 boxster. I had an interesting problem. I arrived and stopped for about 10 minutes and then while I was waiting in neutral to get back on the road to come back down I had a problem. I revving the engine at around 2000-3000rpm to start going and the car died. So I go to restart it and the engine won't turn over, it took about 6-7 seconds turning the key to get it to turn over and then I drove off. The Oil Gauge is normally around 180 but it was at 200. This was at an elevation of 8500 feet and I live at about 5000 feet. As I got back down the mountain the oil gauge went back to 180.

Any thoughts on what this could be? Could be the altitude?
Any way to fix it?
Also it was 85° out.

Thanks!

Vapor lock??

[rick3000]

Whats vapor lock?

[2000SoCalBoxsterS]

Not sure it's vapor lock. I thought that only happened with carburetor's? But there is probably something wrong with how your cars engine computer is adjusting the fuel/air ratio at that altitude. If you're not a member of the PCA go to PCA.org and join. It's only $42/year and you get two great magazines plus access to Tech help by Boxster mechanics in their Tech Q & A section.

[Cloudsurfer]

Are we talking oil pressure (in PSI) here or coolant temperature (in degree F)? From the numbers you're throwing around, this appears to be coolant temp, and unless you have added an oil pressure gauge (as I did by installing a 996 cluster) you dont have a readout of oil pressure.

If we're on the same page here, and we're talking about coolant temp, yes, higher elevations can cause increased engine temps due to the engine working harder because of less dense air, and the fact that water boils at a lower temp at altitude.

Patrick

[Adam]

Originally Posted by bmwm750

Are we talking oil pressure (in PSI) here or coolant temperature (in degree F)? From the numbers you're throwing around, this appears to be coolant temp, and unless you have added an oil pressure gauge (as I did by installing a 996 cluster) you dont have a readout of oil pressure.

If we're on the same page here, and we're talking about coolant temp, yes, higher elevations can cause increased engine temps due to the engine working harder because of less dense air, and the fact that water boils at a lower temp at altitude.

Patrick

I was thinking the same thing...what oil pressure gauge?... unless he's gone to a 996 cluster and the whole shebang with a sender. I'm pretty sure he is talking coolant temp.

[rick3000]

I'm taking it in Tues. the list of things for them to check keeps growing. Thanks for all the advice.

[rick3000]

I took it in today, there probably gonna have it for about a week and a half. I just hope that they replace anything that is wrong and fix it.

[rick3000]

I found out what the problem was today. The engine had a vacuum leak, there going to fix the seal, and it should be running fine. It is interesting how something so small can cause so many problems.

[rick3000]

Got it back after almost exactly two weeks. The car runs fine, the experience was diappointing, with a few new scratches and a torn up leather e-brake boot. The're no going to hear the last of this.