Low Oil Pressure

[vmullane]

Just got done with my left bank valve cover gasket and no more leak

I put some Marvels Mystery Oil in after I was done to hopefully clean any deposits from the last owner. Then another problem has appereared. The oil light comes on after the car is warmed up and at idle. At aprroxamitly 3000RPM the light goes off. Sometimes at idle the light flickers. I changed the oil after only about 10 miles due to the light coming on even though the level was still ok. I didn't have a replacement filter so I am doing that tommorrow when my new filter comes in. What are the chances you think that the strainer picked up some junk and is getting clogged?

I am running a Royal Purple HPS10w-40 oil.

[Infinitiguy19]

How dirty were the cam lobes, rocker arms.....?

Nothing got into the cylinder head that shouldn't have?

How much MMO did you put in?

[vmullane]

Everything looked good. Nothing got in there that I know of. I removed the valve cover and inspected everything then put the new gasket on and tightned everything up the cover was off for maybe about 45 minutes at most. I added about 16 ounces of MMO

[Q451990]

I added about 16 ounces of MMO

That's a lot of MMO! I think your best bet is several oil changes back to back... Walmart Supertech (or something equally as cheap) filters and cheap oil... your goal is to get as much of the sludge that you loosened into suspension and out of there.

Heath

[vmullane]

The MMO bottle recommends to replace 20% of your oil with it. I replaced less than 10%. Is that too much?? It also just crossed my mind that some sludge/dirt getting stuck in the pressure switch, Is that a possibility??

[vmullane]

New oil pressure switch in and still turning light on. I removed the filter and the oil looked metallic. I know the oil I'm running has a high zddp content but would that make it metallic?? I'm putting on a new filter tomorrow after work and I'm going to g from there.

[Q451990]

Metallic sounds weird for sure... maybe the flakes were suspended in some sludge somewhere? Do you have any odd engine noises? My other concern would be that something slipped in there while you changed the gasket...

I always lean toward less-is-more for engine cleaning, for the very reason you're dealing with. Too much sludge breaking free causes major problems.

There is a company called Envirolution that has a reverse flushing process that can be used on an engine... their web site has contact information for their corporate office, but no "locate a shop" feature. http://www.envirolution.com/

If I were in your situation, I think I would call to see if there's anyone with one of their engine flush machines in your area...

Heath

[vmullane]

Thanks for the info. The only noise i've heard is some lifter tick. Its been there since I bought the car. I might have to take it up to Miami if they have a shop with a reverse flush machine up there. Not too much around me here. I know all the local shops and which ones to stay away from. I was having trouble reaching the oil pressure switch port with my gauge so I picked up a couple extensions today to make it a little easierand going to test the pressure for a numerical number instead of just the stupid light. I'm hoping it was just in the sludge. I going to change the filter today and do a couple of oil changes over the next couple days and monitor the oil. I was having trouble reaching the oil pressure switch port with my gauge so I picked up a couple extensions today to make it a little easier.

[Skibane]

You'll definitely want to change the oil filter. There's probably all kinds of sediment in it now.

The filter is supposed to bypass whenever it gets clogged, in order to ensure that the engine continues to receive adequate oil pressure. However, if the bypass has failed...

Since the oil pressure switch is located just after the oil filter, any obstruction beyond that point (i.e., in one of the cylinder head oil passages) wouldn't cause it to turn the LOP light on. So, the problem has to be somewhere between the crankcase and the oil pressure switch. That narrows it down to:

1. The oil level in the crankcase (low oil level)
2. The intake screen (clogged)
3. The pickup tube (clogged or sucking in air)
4. The oil pump
5. The oil pump pressure relief valve (stuck open)
6. The oil filter (not bypassing)
7. The LOP switch (giving false reading)

[vmullane]

Thanks for the list. I know the oil level is ok. I'm double checking the switch tonight. The filter will be brand new and I have a backup filter just in case. If none of this helps guess I'll have to move to the screen/tube. Im hoping the filter takes care of it due to a trip to Orlando coming up next week.

[vmullane]

Changed the filter and so far so good. I cut it open after I got to work. I am color blind and didn't notice that it was way brown. Once I got a better look at it the metal was brass I'm assuming its from the valve guides and was in the sludge as thats what it appeared like in the filter.

[vmullane]

All seems to be well still just hit 500 miles on the oil after a trip to Orlando and back. I wam going to change the filter and do an oil analysis just to double check everythinh. Thanks everyone who helped.

[Q451990]

Sounds like a plan... I'm glad to hear that it's working out ok. Way better than "my engine locked up today."

Heath