Low Oil to head after rebuild

[eclipse90gsxt]

History: I just rebuilt my 6 bolt motor, has 1500 miles as of a few days ago. I redid the rod bearings, main bearings, rings, front case..etc etc for a basic stock rebuild. The head I purchased came off of a running car. I had to get a new head because mine had past spec wrappage. Anyways I have two oil pressure gauges. One is hooked to the oil filter housing, while the other is hooked to the small port next to the stock oil feed line on the head. The problem I am having is that while my oil filter hosuing linked gauge reads 20-25 psi at idle, the head read 0 psi as of yesterday. While I am driving at highway speeds my oil is anywhere from 70psi-100psi+ depending on speed from the filter. I know the oil pump works, but I seem to be not getting much oil to the head at all. My question is, is there any specific spots where I should look to see a blockage? Or is this a sign of anyother problem? I am removing the T belt tomorrow to spin the oil pump with a drill to see what I can see, and then removing the head. My guess is either something is blocking the passage of oil, or is there another problem? Anyone who can give any insight or suggestions would be awsome.


Patrick

 

[Defiant]

The problem I am having is that while my oil filter hosuing linked gauge reads 20-25 psi at idle, the head read 0 psi as of yesterday.

Was it ever reading higher? I think you're just finding out information that most DSMers never know.

 

[pneumo]

I think you're just finding out information that most DSMers never know.

Such as, oil pressure in the head will normally be much lower than at the filter housing. Here's a little known tidbit; the early '90 DSM came with a second oil pressure relief valve mounted in the head. It was set to bleed off oil pressure when it went over 16-18 psi.

If you're not getting enough pressure to the head, first thing you'll notice is lifter tick.

 

[Burnett03]

History: I just rebuilt my 6 bolt motor, has 1500 miles as of a few days ago. I redid the rod bearings, main bearings, rings, front case..etc etc for a basic stock rebuild. The head I purchased came off of a running car. I had to get a new head because mine had past spec wrappage. Anyways I have two oil pressure gauges. One is hooked to the oil filter housing, while the other is hooked to the small port next to the stock oil feed line on the head. The problem I am having is that while my oil filter hosuing linked gauge reads 20-25 psi at idle, the head read 0 psi as of yesterday. While I am driving at highway speeds my oil is anywhere from 70psi-100psi+ depending on speed from the filter. I know the oil pump works, but I seem to be not getting much oil to the head at all. My question is, is there any specific spots where I should look to see a blockage? Or is this a sign of anyother problem? I am removing the T belt tomorrow to spin the oil pump with a drill to see what I can see, and then removing the head. My guess is either something is blocking the passage of oil, or is there another problem? Anyone who can give any insight or suggestions would be awsome.


Patrick

are the lifters ticking? these cars run very low oil pressure at the head.. this is why most dont reccomend feeding turbos from there

 

[eclipse90gsxt]

The lifters just starting to tick VERY loud after 1500 miles on this engine when I was driving home, and the car was very very sluggish. I know the oil will be very low but I didn't know if 0psi at idle was normal or not. My plan is to feed from the filter housing, but I still have to find out why my head isn't getting oil. People have suggested the HG being on wrong/upside down, but to my knowledge thats on right. I am taking it apart soon, when work slows down. Thanks for the help so far.

 

[pneumo]

You might want to check a few things and see if oil pressure is too low. Remove the valvecover and just push down on the lifters. Normally they will be rock-hard. If they're not full of oil you can push them down about 1/4". Bad lifters will do this too, so check them all. Also pop off a few cam caps and see if there is any scoring of the cam journal or cam cap. They should be smooth.

Sorry I couldn't post this yesterday, I got some sort of error message when I tried to log on.

 

[98TsiAWD]

What year head are you using? Are you useing ARP head studs?

 

[eclipse90gsxt]

What year head are you using? Are you useing ARP head studs?

91 Head with 1G arp head studs. Am taking a look at this weekend when I have time off of work. I'll check the lifters/cams as stated. Thanks for the input

 

[HIGHPSI4]

If you are feeding a turbo from the head with a non stock feed line you are probably pulling too much oil flow to the turbo. If you are bleeding the oil to the turbo you will not have any in the galleys. Not too many people have run across this and even fewer have diagnosed it.