Help oil pressure low

[martynp]

Help needed again.......Checked my oil pressure today to find only 2 bar oil pressure when cold at 4000rpm so not very good at all . Turning out to be a never ending project. Gonna have to get the sump off this weekend and have a look at the oil pump. Could anything else cause low oil pressure? Bit worried as it has had a bottom end engine rebuild costing £500 and new valves etc. When I blow through the banjo bolt hole in the block I get no pressure build up. You can hear the air blowing out the filler cap/ breather system. Could it be the oil pressure valve stuck open in the pump? or something else. The last thing I want to do is buy a new pump and find it has something else causing it

[andybond]

Hi fella.

Did you get the reading from the on dash oil pressure gauge or an aftermarket one ?

TBH its convential advice that you shouldnt rely on the on dash one, you will probably get a more reliable reading wetting your finger and poking it out the window.

[martynp]

Hi fella.

Did you get the reading from the on dash oil pressure gauge or an aftermarket one ?

TBH its convential advice that you shouldnt rely on the on dash one, you will probably get a more reliable reading wetting your finger and poking it out the window.

I used an oil pressure gauge kit connected into the block where the banjo bolt goes so I know its accurate.

[Brigsy]

I would look at the pump. First things first check that its a gtt pump.

Check the prv isnt jammed and i would personally fit new rotors.

If that fails the tolerances on the bottom end must be poor?

[martynp]

Well took my oil pump off today and it looks ok with no signs of wear. I squirted oil up the oil feed hole and quite a lot of oil came out from the main bearings but not sure how much should flow out?? Took a main bearing cap off and there is a 0.13mm gap between shel and crank. The shell has got 54 stamped on it Does all this sound ok?? I'm not sure as not done engine rebuilds this involved before.

[Brigsy]

Plastigauge the shells/big ends to check the clearances. Did you check the tolerances of the rotors in the pump with feeler gauges? Mine looked OK but it was at the lower end of the tolerance.

[martynp]

[QUOTE=Brigsy;362017]Plastigauge the shells/big ends to check the clearances. Did you check the tolerances of the rotors in the pump with feeler gauges? Mine looked OK but it was at the lower end of the tolerance.[/QUOTE

what should the clearance be on the shells?
The pump measured 0.18mm. (tolerance is 0.04mm min to 0.29 max) and 0.10mm (tolerance is 0.02min and 0.14 max)

[martynp]

What a great £500 bottom end rebuild this engine has had. Have found that the main bearing shells are the wrong size. They are 54.8mm but should be 54.55mm so have ordered the correct ones today. Bit worried what else they didn't do right ( I have checked big ends and they are ok) Hopefully this will sort the low oil pressure problem I've got.
When I spoke to the place that done it they said they wont be wrong and try running it on 20w50 oil

[TopCat]

I know what I'd do mate.

I'd strip it down and do it again. Why do people do DIY builds if they don't have the knowledge or ability?

Shocking but common place unfortunately pal.

[martynp]

I know what I'd do mate.

I'd strip it down and do it again. Why do people do DIY builds if they don't have the knowledge or ability?

Shocking but common place unfortunately pal.

it was done at a engine build place so no diy job

[Matt Cole]

Name and shame!

[martynp]

meridian engine services Cambridge cb23 7ar

[TopCat]

it was done at a engine build place so no diy job

Feck in hell! Demand a rebuild and expenses mate. When was it built?

[Ashy]

Hopefully this will sort the low oil pressure problem I've got.

I'm sure it will mate!!!

[martynp]

Feck in hell! Demand a rebuild and expenses mate. When was it built?

what are my wrights with this. I bought the car knowing the engine had already had a £500 rebuild in july 2013 (so that's why I payed what I did for the car) and all I needed to do was get a turbo and carb to get it running. I've not got a problem with who I bought the car from (vale46) it's the engine place that has pissed me off as they couldn't even fit the correct shells. I think £500 is a lot for what they done anyway. They polished the crank fitted new shells cleaned the bores fitted liner seals and new rings. reface flywheel checked crank balance.
The problem I've got it's all been put in the car and they are 95 miles away from me

[Trevhib]

Blimey.

Top marks for noticing the low pressure in the first place and doing all the right things in getting it sorted.

[chris]

Its totally up to you mate but if it was me the car would be goin back to engine builder no question

[martynp]

Blimey.

Top marks for noticing the low pressure in the first place and doing all the right things in getting it sorted.

Was a bit lucky as the oil gauge wasn't working properly so I thought best check the pressure just on the safe side

[TopCat]

No idea on your consumer rights there mate. Give them a call and see what they have to say.

[FSP]

The service garage should pick the car, fix the problem and thank you for noticing the error tey did.

[Alex]

The thing is would you really want that garage to work on the car now?

[martynp]

The thing is would you really want that garage to work on the car now?

NO WAY NOT IN A MILLION YEARS

Gonna fit the shells when I get them and make sure it's ok first then will give them a call and see what they say. Not expecting much to be honest.
I don't mind doing the job at least I know it's correct it's just the fact that they have taken good money and done a shit job and that does wind me up.

[martynp]

Fitted correct main bearing shells and now I've got 5 bar oil pressure :
Will be giving the engine rebuild place a call Monday to see what they have to say about it ( bunch off t*****s)

[Trevhib]

[TopCat]

Fitted correct main bearing shells and now I've got 5 bar oil pressure :
Will be giving the engine rebuild place a call Monday to see what they have to say about it ( bunch off t*****s)

Good work mate