Low oil pressure again

[Vettefan87]

Tonight while I was driving the oil pressure got down to 17 pounds with the oil 175. I took it out of gear and held it at 750-800 and the oil pressure went up to 28-34. Could the lifters making noise have anything to do with the oil pressure dropping? I swear that they are getting louder and louder. The last time I drove the car was Friday night and the oil pressure at idle in gear never went below 28 which I think is still low considering my brother carries about 45-50 pounds at idle at higher oil temps. Driving in overdrive at 1200 rpm's I would get anywhere from 29-38, which is lower then the owners manual calls for at idle if I recall right which says 35-40. I am going to have my dad contact our attorney tomorrow if we cant get anything with the rebuilders. It never got that low the first time and it still scored every bearing, so it has probably already caused damage. Anybody have opinions. At least now I have another car so I don't really need the car back asap, I just want it fixed right and not have to be done again and again and again. Thanks


Justin

 

[Vettefan87]

Is there a rating on oil pumps? Like what is the stock oil pump psi, if there is one? Thanks

 

[ZumZum]

Could the lifters making noise have anything to do with the oil pressure dropping?
Justin

If your oil pressure is that low, it's very likely that you're not geting enough lubrication at the lifters.

 

[Hib Halverson]

The first thing you need to do is verify what you're seeing on the gage is correct. Do that by connecting a known good oil pressure gauge to the engine and comapre it's reading to that of the IP. If they agree, I'd say you've got an engine problem of some kind. If the engine is high-mileage, it is possible but unlikely the problem will be solved simply by replacement or repair of the oil pump.

 

[Vettefan87]

Well last night when the oil pressure dropped to 17 I had a bad feeling that I spun the bearings and the car did. This will be the third time the motor is going to have to be rebuilt the first time was due to a bad head gasket, the second the cause was never found. The rebuilders are trying to blame it on a bad injector and gas getting in and mixing with the oil, they told me they were going to ship out the injectors and have them flow tested, when I spun the bearings the second time, but for some damn reason that didn't happen. Does anybody know of fail safes on the injectors? If one was bad wouldn't the car run like s***? I am going to get a roll off and take it to my grandparents house so it will be out of the way since it will most likely sit a couple of months, because I have to take them to court. I can't afford to keep dumping this much money into the car for R&R, just for it to go out a couple hundred miles later. Anybody have any suggestions. I appreciate everyones help so far.


Justin

 

[bossvette]

The rebuilders are trying to blame it on a bad injector and gas getting in and mixing with the oil Justin

think about it a minute, a fresh engine with good seal on the rings there should be no way gas gets into the oil. Some one made a mistake and doesn't want to own up to it was the oil level high?
maybe its time you did your own rebuild there are many good books about the small block Chevy and you will have a sense of accomplishment when done.
there is a wealth of knowledge and several threads on engine builds right here on CAC
Craig sr

 

[vetteboy86]

Craig Sr.

We know that now. However we have over 3000 wasted and the car still is down. We haven't had it all summer long, and all we get from these guys are excuses. First it was that my brother drove the car too hard. Then they said the shop that put the motor back into the car didn't get the oil cooler clean. Well the oil doesn't flow out, but coolant flows in to cool the oil. That was a dead end. Then they said that when the rebuilt it the second time one of the injectors looked different from the rest. He said that he would have them checked, however never did. They told us to buy new injectors as a cheap form of insurance. I do not believe there is an injector problem. The plugs look good, and the car ran okay. Like you said a new engine, and how much gas would have to get into the oil. The car was only driven for 600 miles the second time. I find it hard to believe that after they rebuilt the engine an injector failed. The reason the engine was rebuilt was because of a bad head gasket. So they are just making excuses. What I want to know, is why cant they get it right?

Craig