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Original Message
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| RE: Oil pressure question |
| By John - 05/13/2002 8:27:12 PM; IP 142.177.6.162 |
| The oil pressure sensor is the usual culprit. The little beehive shaped housing has a diaphram inside it, and they eventually can spring a small leak. As the pressure equalizes on both sides of the diaphram, low oil pressure is indicated. You can teporarily cure this by drilling a small hole in the beehive housing near the electrical contact. You will get a small oil leak, but it will confirm the problem. For an "idiot" light, a switch is used instead. The switches are far less prone to failure. Knowing this, and because you changed the unit with no success, I'd say you actually do have a reduction in oil pressure. This is not good. It is almost always caused by worn main bearings. Since the engine was recently rebuilt, there are many other things that could be the cause, such as a oil gallery plug that worked loose (it amazes me the pressed in ones stay as it it). It could be a loose oil pick-up (very common) or a loose oil pump (both items should be loctited during assembly and lockwired if possible). So, what to do? First verify the low oil pressure with a mechanical gauge against the oil pressure switch's specs (usually illuminates around 6 psi). If the oil pressure is low, then remove the pan and check the oil pick-up and oil pump. If everything is still all right, remove the valve covers and check the ends of the rocker shafts for the pressed in plugs and the rocker stands for tightness. Still ok? Remove the intake manifold and check all the oil gallery plugs you can locate. Still nothing? Remove the engine and check the rear oil galllery plugs. Last....strip the engine down and face the rebuild scene. Some people may try to tell you that a clogged oil filter is the culprit, but oil filters have a bypass in them to allow circulation if plugged or if the oil is very thick and cold. My similiar problem was found to be a cracked block that allowed antifreeze to mix with the oil and ruin the main bearings. Hope your problem is less severe. |
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