Oil pressure Probs --- WHY?
 

I have a rebuilt ZC and I am running a 14b turbo. The other day while driving home, I noticed the oil pressure well below what it normally is. The oil pressure was at 20psi. I got home, let the car sit over night. I rewired the ground cable for the gauge sending unit and started it up. The oil gauge read 50psi, I thought woo hoo, that is all it was, no big deal problem solved... But while I was letting the engine warm up, I noticed the idle drop to 400, sounded like it was going to stall and the oil pressure dropped to 20psi. Obviously this is not a gauge problem because it is affecting the way the engine runs.

So, I thought that it could be the oil pump and decided to pull it and check it out. Oil pump looks to be fine. I also thought it could be a spun bearing so I decided to check the rod/main bearings, they all look good. What else would affect oil pressure?? I have no idea where to go from here, please help.

Chris

Re:Oil pressure Probs --- WHY?
 

oil? shitty oil=shitty oil pressure. does you oil light come one? 400 Rpm is not gona make good oil pressure, what does it make at higher rpms and idle?

Re:Oil pressure Probs --- WHY?
 

I would think that the pump wouldn't make all that much pressure at 400rpm. My brand new fully built y8 does about 25psi at 700rpm when it's warm.
I would say try to adjust your idle or check out your spark also(just a guess)
Hows the pressure when your driving? Normal?

Re:Oil pressure Probs --- WHY?
 

thin shitty oil

Re:Oil pressure Probs --- WHY?
 

20-25 psi is normal @ idle.

Re:Oil pressure Probs --- WHY?
 

The 400rpm Idle is not what I have it set to. While the car was warming up, everything was running normal. Idle was at 1000. The idle dropping to 400 and having no oil pressure has never happened before, I have about 10k on my engine. Also I realize that 20psi is normal for idle, but that is after the engine is fully warmed up and I've been driving for a bit and then come to a red light -- Thats fine. My temperature gauge didn't get into the normal opperating range before the Idle/pressure drop, that is what I dont get. While driving at say 3000rpms the oil pressure remained the same. I can not get the oil pressure to rise above 20psi.

Re:Oil pressure Probs --- WHY?
 

If this problem just started out of the blue, what has happened recently to provoke it? What weight of oil are you running right now? That engine drop to 400rpm was probably just a random fluke. Something else is amiss with your setup, quite possibly oil used. Have you been overheating anytime recently?

Re:Oil pressure Probs --- WHY?
 

Right before the pressure drop, I was bagging on the car. Drove it hard for most of the afternoon. I am running 5w30 castrol gtx. As far as the overheating goes, I have not had any problems, excpet on really hot days, I notice the engine runs at 210. On warm days, the engine runs between 180-190. Seems pretty normal to me.... I think what I am going to do next is just put the bottom end back together with some fresh oil and see what happens. Could a probelm with the turbo cause any of these problems??

Re:Oil pressure Probs --- WHY?
 

run something heavy like 10w-40 or so. I run 20w-50 :D

Re:Oil pressure Probs --- WHY?
 

My next move for you would be to go with thicker oil/fresh high performance oil filter. No need to go with the K/N filter, but at least get a nice quality $5 one, like a bosch.

I think the 20w50 suggestion would be a bit much for your small engine (and with that turbo). I'm all about going with thicker oils, I broke in my sbc with straight 30 (hells yeahz). If you're going with your basic castrol gtx, get the 10w40. It is summer time, and your car does get hotter, a thicker oil will help you out. Even on vehicles that don't get 3000 miles in one season (like me k5), I still do the season oil change for best performance.

Consider going with a syntec blend of oil (I'm still a big castrol fan), I haven't seen it in 10w40, but if you want to run 10w30, definately give the syntec half/half a shot.

If I get the time, I will do a complete writeup on oils and their origins and the differences in sythetics, ahh too much to write.

-ryan