Zero oil pressure...

[1gcrazy]

So I have a 94 talon tsi awd and i've been struggling with keeping a solid motor in this car for almost a year, i'm on my 5th motor.
It's got a 6 bolt with a Forward facing oil filter with only the gauge sending unit. The motors just been put together by me and everything was installed without issues. Stock bottom end.
I stop in at Advance, grab a qt of oil because i'm half way down on the stick. I'm on the highway and notice my oil light starting to flicker. I see my pressure is doing ok so I proceed home.

I get home and drive it around the block to listen for knock or something. I hear a FAINT ticking. I have a leaky exhaust so i'm a little unsure still.

I do some research and clean the contacts on the aftermarket oil pressure sensor and hook up a new gauge on top of the existing gauge.

Zero.

I rev it a little and it barely moves.

The stock gauge barely moves anymore. No knock yet. Whats the deal??

 

[hairybeanbag]

I wouldn't trust the stock sender or gauge for that matter Steve, Mine only moves 1/3 of the sweep in the dash and my Greddy gauge reads 7 bar on cold start or WOT.

 

[1gcrazy]

Well, i've used the stock one as well as an aftermarket sender. Stock and aftermarket gauge. It just sits at zero.

But no knock.

 

[hairybeanbag]

Did you use a new oil pump, OEM or something else? Did you prime the motor before installing the T belt and have good pressure then?

I'd go start the car and look into the Oil cap, You'll see oil coming out of the lifters. Rev it up a bit and oil should come flying out of the cap hole.

 

[1gcrazy]

I also start it and look down the oil fill cap and there is a steady stream of oil spraying out the top of the rocker arm against the cam. That gives me a small sense of relief... barely.

Edit: Hah, just did that before updating the site. It is VERY possible that both senders are junk, they've been rolling around in my parts bins for years. They're aftermarket but still look to be in good shape. Same with the gauges... they've been smacked around a while.

I used a used OEM pump that looked to be in good shape. I don't see any flakes in the oil and it has a BSEK done.
The motor has been run before for a good week or two of long driving. Then it sat for a while, then restarted. I did prime the oil pump prior to its first start and I did NOT prime it after sitting for a while.

 

[hairybeanbag]

good deal.

 

[1gcrazy]

Hah, good deal?
Any thoughts?

 

[tron2119]

I would try another sending unit. You clearly have oil so maybe the sending units are junk. Would be cheap to try.

 

[1gcrazy]

Would a leaky rear main seal cause low pressure?

 

[brokedowntalon7]

When you did your balance shaft elim did you ensure you rotated the shaft bearings 180* to block the oil hole?

 

[jimbob_843]

Wouldnt trust the electric gauges try a mechanical one. If its a decent stream of oil and everything is quiet as usual i would rule the gauges or sending units out. Especially ones that have been rolling around .


And normally i wouldnt say to drive it like that but you have been so .........yeah

 

[1gcrazy]

Yeah I blocked it off correctly. I dont trust the guages or the senders...

 

[jimbob_843]

Yeah browse the forums for a gauge. Got mine for about $25. Then just hit up the auto store and get the autometer install kit with copper tubing $15. Oh and dont forget to grab a 1/8" npt bit to rethread the hole. I used a constant vaccum while doing mine to prevent shavings from getting in my oil. Hope it works out