Sleeper_Z

I just got my car to run halfway decent after my cam and head swap, I got all the opti problems fixed and I decide to take it around the block. Well I get halfway around and the amp gauge starts to fall. So I limp back home and stick the battery on the charger so I can head down to the parts store to test the alt. I got there and tested the alt, it was putting out no amps to I got back in the car fired it up and headed for home. Half way home I stopped at a light and looked down and I have no oil pressure at all at idle. When I give is some gas it goes up between the first and second mark. I dont know if it was because my car was so low of juice from the alternator or if my motor is toast. If anyone has experianced this please let me know your findings. I wont be able to get a new alt. till this weekend so Im just trying to find out was i can now. Thanks amillion.

Jeremy

simple

what does it idle at?
after doing my topend my oil pressure at 950rpm idle is below 20psi (close to 15psi) and about 45-50 psi at WOT

was waaay more before i did all this

what weight oil are you using?

Sleeper_Z

well i havent got it tuned yet so its running about 550-650 and i put in some 10W30 dino oil to clean it all out and stuff.

simple

well that low of an idle will explain a low oil pressure to a point but not 0 oil pressure, you need to bump that idle up, for an M6 car thats not even stock idle territory. atleast 800rpm....atleast

Sleeper_Z

Yeah I know the idle is way low I just wanted to take a lap and check out the clutch and all. I just dont know if there might be a possiblity that my alternator wasnt putting out enough amps or something screwy like that

simple

change the oil and filter and try a 40W next (kind of a bandaid fix if you are having serious problems)

bump the idle up with your Tunercat software

Z28SORR

Your oil pressure sending unit and gage are electrically powered .
Get that part fixed first, then check the oil pressure. Or get a direct reading gage.

Sleeper_Z

Yeah Ill give that a shot. You think the cam might have been just a shade smaller at the bearing jurnals than the stock one? The first bearing didnt look that bad when I pulled the cam out,. And I was VERY gentle when removing and installing them.

Sleeper_Z

Well the oil pressure sender is brand new. I broke it when trying to remove it to install the headers.

Jason Dove

Did you put the oil pump drive in (the thing under the intake that goes into the block and has a gear that meches with the camshaft) and torque it to spec?

It's easy to damage if you over torque it, or if you forgot to put the bolt in it would pop out and you'd get no/low pressure.

Sleeper_Z

Yeah I put it back in, I had great oil pressure right after the cam went in and I was setting the rockers. Not when It idles I have to oil pressure and when I give it gas it pops back up to 30 or so. I just snugged the bolt down cause I belive it called for a very low inch pound torque setting and my inch pound wrench didnt go that low. I am gonna to some inverstigation this weekend, check the oil for metal shavings, change the oil and fliter, put a machanical gauge on and see what it reads off that. The motor doesnt even have 95k on it yet and it was a sheriff car so it had great maintainance for the first 80k and I change the oil every 2-3k but who knows. Its amazing how a clutch installation can go so far then throw you a curve ball and put you way back befor step one Thanks for all your help. I hope to have some good news tomarrow or saturday. Ill keep you posted. Thanks again

Jeremy