Oil gauge reading no pressure at startup!

[vsman77]

This is the second time within a couple of days when at startup, my oil gauge showed no movement... Then after messing with the gas for some seconds, the pressure goes up to normal. Is this just a problem with my gauge?

Thanks
Vaughn

[phantomrt]

Normal as far as I can tell. It should only take like 1-2 seconds.

But.... try a mechanical guage first before you do anything to verify what is going on. The electric guages like to do weird stuff. I have one right now that likes to show zero oil pressure at anything over 3500 RPM. Weird, huh?

[puppet]

You could also have a small crack in the pick-up tube.
... sort of depends on what "some seconds" is. Does this happen just on cold starts?

[firebaron90]

Any noises from the engine that would cry out "no oil pressure?"

If not, I +1 with the mechanical oil pressure guage. It is the only sure wayt o tell if you are getting pressure. Dont waste time, and do it now. Your engine is worth the 30.00 for the guage. Install the hardware in the stock guage local, and just run it to your windshield, and go for a ride.

Joe

[vsman77]

Quote:

Originally Posted by puppet You could also have a small crack in the pick-up tube. ... sort of depends on what "some seconds" is. Does this happen just on cold starts?

Yes, this only happened 2 times on cold starts...

[vsman77]

Quote:

Originally Posted by firebaron90 Any noises from the engine that would cry out "no oil pressure?" If not, I +1 with the mechanical oil pressure guage. It is the only sure wayt o tell if you are getting pressure. Dont waste time, and do it now. Your engine is worth the 30.00 for the guage. Install the hardware in the stock guage local, and just run it to your windshield, and go for a ride. Joe

There were no noises from the engine...
Has not happened in 2 days...

[bluneon]

maybe something got stuck in the screen of the pick up tube?

[vsman77]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluneon maybe something got stuck in the screen of the pick up tube?

That thought went through my mind also. I will remove the pan to take out the balance shafts soon. I'll have a good look then.

[vsman77]

It happened again. I heard tapping in the engine during the low pressure. I shut the engine off and back on a couple of times and then back to normal. What is causing this?

Thanks
Vaughn

[shelby1.5turbo]

Knock Knock
Who's there?
Internal
Internal who?
Internal engine damage/problem.
My guess piston(s) are failing or already failed happened on my turbo 2 engine, and that f*&^ing sucks. I had all the similar oil pressure reading til the knocking started and lost the retaining clip for cylinder #1. I say pull the pan and look for shavings and large metal deposits. But I hope it is something easy to repair and fix and you should be more specific on where the knocking is coming. Sorry about the joke trying to lighten the mode.

[vsman77]

Quote:

Originally Posted by shelby1.5turbo Knock Knock Who's there? Internal Internal who? Internal engine damage/problem. My guess piston(s) are failing or already failed happened on my turbo 2 engine, and that f*&^ing sucks. I had all the similar oil pressure reading til the knocking started and lost the retaining clip for cylinder #1. I say pull the pan and look for shavings and large metal deposits. But I hope it is something easy to repair and fix and you should be more specific on where the knocking is coming. Sorry about the joke trying to lighten the mode.

It was'nt knocking. Just some very low valve tapping for the seconds that the oil was not circulating. Maybe the oil pump is starting to go...

[firebaron90]

Pull the pan, remove those damn balance shafts, plug the hole, and start loooking for damage. If al is well, check the clearences on the pickup to pump surface area, and the pump to block area. Maybe it is warped,and you are intermittently losing seal.

Joe

[shelby1.5turbo]

I never said it was knocking it was a knock knock joke. But pull the pan and look for damage. It did start as a low taping noise at first the progressed to knockin. I was using what happen to me as an example so you won't have to go through the same thing I did.

[scott_s]

Check that the oil filter is tight. I had a similiar problem and something was up with the filter. Though I can not remember what it was.

[vsman77]

Thanks guys, I will have to drop that pan soon. What would happen if I just cut the balance shaft chain and leave them in? I would do that to avoid the oil starvation problem.