I have a 1996 240sx (KA24DE) 5spd 82000 miles.
Minimal mods, in fact...only one. A Cold Air Indcution kit.
This was my brothers car before I got it. He did not maintain the car adequately and the last oil change before I got it was a 12,000 mile change. I drained all of about 1.5 - 2qts of nasty grimy black oil out of it. Not to mention the fact that he insisted on using 0w-30 Mobil 1. I like to use 20w-50 Mobil 1.
The only engine work I have done was removing the two broken timing chain guides, (not tensioner) from the engine as per dealer recommendation.
The other day, I started the car and almost immediately it began to rattle. The oil pressure light came on and I shut it down.
I doubt the oil pump is actually bad, but given the service history....who knows?
The crankcase is currently full of diesel fuel in the hopes that if there is a blockage of the pick up screen, it will be dissolved over the course of the next 2 weeks.
I'm wondering if anyone has had oil pump failure on the KA24DE or experienced a similar loss of oil pressure.
I don't race this engine, I'm saving the racing for the RB25DET. Probably the fastest it's ever turned was 5500rpm....if that high.
If anyone can give me advice or ideas about what could be causing the problem, please reply.
:help
-Texsilvia
No Oil Pressure = Dead Engine....Cause?
It was a while after...both guides were damaged to the point that they were ready to fall away from the block. The upper guide was particularly bad, cracked all the way across and resting on the chain. The lower guide was also cracked, and rattling.
A little chatter is normal, yes...but this thing now sounds like poorly running diesel.
As far as the oil pressure, the only indication I have is the oil pressure warning light.
I'm really at a loss on this one, the oil pump is generally one of the more robust components on an engine. I have a hard time believeing it would fail outright. My next guess is a clogged pick-up screen.
A little chatter is normal, yes...but this thing now sounds like poorly running diesel.
As far as the oil pressure, the only indication I have is the oil pressure warning light.
I'm really at a loss on this one, the oil pump is generally one of the more robust components on an engine. I have a hard time believeing it would fail outright. My next guess is a clogged pick-up screen.
Does anyone know the way the oil pump is driven on this car? If it is driven on the timing chain, is it possible that the drive-cog has been worn away?
I had considered that the 2 bolts holding the lower guide on tapped in to an oil passage, and that the lack of pressure would come from oil escaping through these holes. But, this can't be the case because I had driven the car for quite some time after removing the lower guide and bolts with no Low Oil Pressure indication, no rattling, and no problems.
I'll be happy if the diesel fuel works, that stuff dissolves just about any kind of grime that could stick to metal and seems to recondition dried seals. My hope is that around 3 gallons of goop will pour out from the oil pan when I drain it.
I had considered that the 2 bolts holding the lower guide on tapped in to an oil passage, and that the lack of pressure would come from oil escaping through these holes. But, this can't be the case because I had driven the car for quite some time after removing the lower guide and bolts with no Low Oil Pressure indication, no rattling, and no problems.
I'll be happy if the diesel fuel works, that stuff dissolves just about any kind of grime that could stick to metal and seems to recondition dried seals. My hope is that around 3 gallons of goop will pour out from the oil pan when I drain it.
Oh, and no...I haven't driven it, obviously, since the oil pressure light came on.
This happened in my driveway, thankfully, so once the rattling started I shut it off...tried it once more to confirm that I was indeed going to be incredibly pissed off and that the oil pressure light wasn't a fluke, then shut it down....
This happened in my driveway, thankfully, so once the rattling started I shut it off...tried it once more to confirm that I was indeed going to be incredibly pissed off and that the oil pressure light wasn't a fluke, then shut it down....
Texan, born and raised!
I had counted on the oil pump to be reliable. It is virtually submerged in oil, at high pressure. Short of something being mechanically lodged in the pump body, or somehow twisting the pump shaft, I can't imagine how it would fail.
I would rather not put another KA24DE in the car if I can avoid it. Nothing against all the loyal KA24 fans, but I'll use this opportunity to make the step up to larger HP numbers.
Venus Auto in Sacramento CA has RB25DET's and RB20DET's ranging from ~1500 to ~2500 for front clips and since I was planning on doing the swap eventually, now seems as good a time as any.
I'm going to chalk this whole experience up to incredibly bad luck.
-Texsilvia
I had counted on the oil pump to be reliable. It is virtually submerged in oil, at high pressure. Short of something being mechanically lodged in the pump body, or somehow twisting the pump shaft, I can't imagine how it would fail.
I would rather not put another KA24DE in the car if I can avoid it. Nothing against all the loyal KA24 fans, but I'll use this opportunity to make the step up to larger HP numbers.
Venus Auto in Sacramento CA has RB25DET's and RB20DET's ranging from ~1500 to ~2500 for front clips and since I was planning on doing the swap eventually, now seems as good a time as any.
I'm going to chalk this whole experience up to incredibly bad luck.
-Texsilvia