Where's my oil pressure!?

[iamtall77]

2 weeks ago i changed my timing belt and all the pulleys. i also removed the balance shafts and put on an underdrive crank pulley. after doing this i sprung an oil leak from the balance shaft pulley hole. i fixed it and it began to leak from the oil filter bracket and i lost oil pressure. i put on a new gasket and no change. i didn't really drive it, but i had low oil pressure on startup.
before all of this i would get about 80psi on startup with the engine at 1500rpms. i have an Autometer oil pressure and water temp gauges. after getting warm (about 190 deg) i had 15-10psi of oil running Mobil 1 5W30 full syn. now i have about 30psi on startup and before i replaced the gasket i had no pressure at warm idle and the idiot light came on.
what the hell happened!? any ideas? i plugged the oil holes from the balance shafts, so it shouldn't be that. the oil pump is fine as far as i can tell. the only thing i can think of is the oil pressure switch (the plug above the stock oil pressure sending unit) i pulled it and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. the spring was intact and the oil plunger was clean (not clogged) i've run out of ideas here and hope i can get some help. please oh please i need my car. thanks.

Jeff

 

[Defiant]

Originally posted by iamtall77
before all of this i would get about 80psi on startup with the engine at 1500rpms.

Holy SHIT! It should be more around 15psi. Was your relief valve seized?

A good rule of thumb is 10psi per 1000rpm.

 

[iamtall77]

o you mean that before all this i should have had only about 15psi on startup? i usually had about 60psi driving at 3000rpms. was that too high. is it normal now or is it skrewed up? i'm going to take it for a short drive today to see if my pressure drops off when it's warm. wish me luck.

Jeff

 

[iamtall77]

well i got it out of the garage today. it started fine with no pressure and it took some time to get oil going through it. the whirring sound i thought was my new timing belt didn't start until i got some oil pressure. it ran fine and once it got warm, there was no pressure at idle. i'm seriously thinking of rebuilding this engine. i might just drive it until it quits though. any suggestions?

 

[BUCK]

You can't rebuild a head with seized Camshafts - An Engine with a rod thru the side of the Block...


quote:
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Originally posted by iamtall77
before all of this i would get about 80psi on startup with the engine at 1500rpms.

That is normal Oil pressure BTW on a cold motor...

 

[Logue]

youre oil pressure should be high when you first start the car then go down as the car warms up

jj

 

[iamtall77]

i found the culprit... a stripped bolt to my balance shaft stub. WARNING! when doing a balance shaft elimination on a high milage engine, replace the oil pump. Yes this means you need the whole front cover (about $250) My oil pump was apparently getting worn and when i removed the balance shaft, it put more stress on the oil pump gear. the resulting wobble left my bolt threads in the oil pan. it sucks, but at least i don't have to rebuild the whole engine, yet thanks for everyones input. be forewarned and take every precaution. have fun.

thx
Jeff