Very Low Oil Pressure in New Engine
Thanks for all the replies.
what kind of pump are u running no need 20-50 oil 10-40 works fine
Melling High Volume. I tried 20-50 grasping at straws.
was it making noise? any metal in the pan? sounds like it may have been the oil pump going south. if it were me, i would put a new pump in it and see if you get good pressure again. if it doesnt , then i would yank it out and check all your clearances. then go from there.
No noise at all, sounded great. The rockers were tapping, but it is a solid cam. If I could get the pan out in the car it would be out already, but I am hoping to avoid that.
When I changed the oil I ran it through a coffee filter. It was clean enough that I could have put it back in the bottles. No metal under the valve covers at all.
Maybe a cam bearing spun a little in its bore, blocking off the hole that feeds the rockers??
Or, If I remember correctly there was something about the HV pumps in GuitarJones oil galley thread about the pressure plug being in there backwards causing some weird things to happen. I'm gonna read through it now.
Cam bearings lined up before it went together. But even if it spun I don't think that would cause the gauge to read low. Cam bearing clearance is the only thing I didn't check. I don't have a bore gauge that small and since I've never run into that problem before...
sounds like the cam bearings ..or ur pick up on oil pump fell off..next time tac weld it so that dose t happen dont ask me why i know that..lol
The pick up threads in so it would have had to break as it couldn't unwind. But since I still have some pressure I think that rules that out.
Okay, it was opposite with the plug in backwards,
"OK, I've recently been made aware of an issue with the Melling high volume oil pumps. It would appear that the cup plug for the pressure relief spring has been installed backwards in some pumps. The cup portion should face the spring and be pressed in just far enough to install the cotter pin. My pump came with the plug pressed in with the cup facing outward towards the cotter pin. mshred installed his back in the same way (as did I) and he ended up with over 150 psi of oil pressure just priming his engine. "
I think I'm good there too as if it were backwards the pressure would be too high.
I trust you have ruled out the gauge/sending unit. Or better yet hooked up a good mechanical gauge. If so....You could cut open the oil filter and look real close. If it's real clean inside then It may be something simple like a bad oil pump. Or maybe the dreaded plug came loose & fell out. The one in the back of the block that leaks internally when it's forgotten during the build.
Sounds like pulling the pan is next on the list.
We think alike. It has a mechanical gauge and I did try another. It reads a few PSI higher, but still way low.
There was nothing in the oil, but I'll cut apart the filter and see if there is anything in there.
The plug on the end of the lifter bore feed is (well it was) in place when I put the motor together. I guess I could pull the intake and see, but I can't imagine that coming loose.
Anything on the right angle filter adapter that could be hosed up? This engine didn't have one, but needed on to clear the headers.
Thanks again for all the replies. I'll keep update this when I find the problem.
