I found my problem I believe! I will post a write up on how this happened and confirm it’s fixed when it’s back together. I was focused on the scoring of my pump cover but the real problem was when I laid a straight edge across the cover and saw it to be con caved big time. Like .015” again once it’s back together and I confirm it’s solved I’ll do a write up on how this happened because I now remember it like yesterday.
Oil Pressure Help Needed.
- Thread starter LRDONE
- Start date
I feel dumb
but ya live and ya learn! The drive gear popped out of the oil pump. Put crank pulley on and tightened it before realizing it was seated all the way! Then there was the hour or two of trying to get the drive gear back in without disassembly before you disassemble it. Haha. It was at that point when all my oil pressure problems started.The OP drive gear used to be staked so they wouldnt come apart like that. But with everything getting made cheaper that stopped years ago. We had the same thing happen a few years ago. I ended uo getting another cover and replacing the whole thing. worst part is if i remember it was an interim cover on a 1995 and I had to drive a few hours to grab one from a junkyard.I feel dumb
Im curious how this pans out for you. Ive been chasing slow to build and less than ideal oil pressure for some time now. I got a new (used) front cover, new oil pump, new main and rod bearings, new camshaft, oil cooler hot tanked when i got my radiator cleaned, new valve train/rods/lifters, new oil cooler lines, etc.
It takes about 8-10 seconds on a cold morning for the light to shut off and 15 total for it to reach 20psi on a cold start, idles at 10-15psi once hot. Warm starts are instant oil pressure but if it sits for more than a couple hours, its a couple seconds instead. My gauge wont read past 20psi at anything above 1500rpm but i suspect that is a fault with the oil filter sandwich adapter. Ive tried a mechanical and electronic oil pressure gauge with same results, electrical being them most responsive.
Curious how yours turns out and what the cause was.
I don't have mine back together yet as I am waiting patiently for gaskets to show up. What I have learned is that there are only three points that will cause the system to lose it's prime. The oil pickup tube & gasket, the timing cover to the engine block gasket or lastly, tolerances within the oil pump assembly. The problem I found with mine was the tolerance between the cover plate that secures the oil pump to the timing cover. The plate was con caved from an assembly error. The tolerance for the cover plate to oil pump is maximum .004". My plate was measuring .015" Plus. I measured this using plasti-gauge on a few areas of the pump gears, bolting the plate on, then removing it and measuring the plasti-gauge. My new/used plate measured .002-.003" I'm almost positive that that was my issue I just haven't been able to confirm it yet.
Your situation is unique because you also have low oil pressure. If it were me, a quick thing to check would be to drop the pan, make sure the pick up tube doesn't have cracks, the screen is clean, the sealing surfaces are clean and the gasket is brand new. I would also make sure the oil viscosity isn't too thick. If you can because it might be tricky, it would be a good idea to confirm that the pressure relief valve is not hanging open. There's really not much else that can be an issue. Be careful using shitty gaskets, I had a few problems with that as well. I was banging my head on the work bench because the system is rather simple. Fingers crossed I'll be good to go when it goes together, I'm pretty confident that I found my issue.
Okay, everything is installed as of last night, letting all the gaskets and product settle until tonight. Tonight it’s getting fluids! I’ll do a shake down, get it up to temp, bleed the cooling system. Then tomorrow morning will be the real test, stone cold first start after sitting. Also, if any of your are looking to replace the screws that hold the oil pump cover on. The Phillips head screw, you can get them at McMaster-carr it’s a m6 thread pitch is 1.0 and the length is 12mm.
Bottom end, Land Rover discovery 1.
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It’s fixed!!
first start last night, built oil pressure. Shut it down, walked out this morning, started the truck, counted to 3 and the light went out.
Bent cover plate for the oil pump was the problem.
Thanks for all the help everyone. This was a tough one.
first start last night, built oil pressure. Shut it down, walked out this morning, started the truck, counted to 3 and the light went out.
Bent cover plate for the oil pump was the problem.
Thanks for all the help everyone. This was a tough one.
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Okay, everything is installed as of last night, letting all the gaskets and product settle until tonight. Tonight it’s getting fluids! I’ll do a shake down, get it up to temp, bleed the cooling system. Then tomorrow morning will be the real test, stone cold first start after sitting. Also, if any of your are looking to replace the screws that hold the oil pump cover on. The Phillips head screw, you can get them at McMaster-carr it’s a m6 thread pitch is 1.0 and the length is 12mm.
Bottom end, Land Rover discovery 1.
Finally, a Porsche mechanic comes up with proper solution. Glad all that trouble shooting paid off! I’ll be looking for good used front cover for mine. All the best.
I think you identified a common problem. As these covers are NLA, this gives me hope for getting my slow to build oil
pressure engines working right. I have two with this problem and with no confidence it could be improved I have been reluctant to dig into it. Thanks! Maybe some machinist would take on making the flat plates as a side job?
pressure engines working right. I have two with this problem and with no confidence it could be improved I have been reluctant to dig into it. Thanks! Maybe some machinist would take on making the flat plates as a side job?
Machining is already in the works! I’m going to machine a plate for my other cover. While it’s all set up I would like to just run a few on the machine and maybe hand them out for R&D.
350 miles later the shake down went well!