No oil pressure... please suggest causes to eliminate

[pupp]

One on behalf of a friend. Serp engine just had a top-end rebuild, and now won't register oil pressure on start-up.

Pump is turning, and has been primed (and reprimed). Sender checks out and is connected ok (guage 'flickered' a couple of times but no pressure is present or showing).

Apparently relief valve and pick up have been checked.

Bottom end of motor believed healthy, certainly was ok when top end stripped.

Just need a list of other ideas please...

[v8 racing]

when you say top end rebuild? was the front cover removed?

[pupp]

v8 racing said:

when you say top end rebuild? was the front cover removed?

The work included a new cam I believe, so yes I would fully expect so.

[v8 racing]

The way the front cover gasket sits on a serp engine can sometimes slip, and insted of the pump trying to suck the oil out of the sump it is basicaly trying to suck air in instead from the front of the engine, it may be difficult to see but try and have a look at the drivers side of the front cover and make sure you can see some of the gasket? if not the chances are it has slipped! have you had a word with whoever fitted it?

[pupp]

v8 racing said:

The way the front cover gasket sits on a serp engine can sometimes slip, and insted of the pump trying to suck the oil out of the sump it is basicaly trying to suck air in instead from the front of the engine, it may be difficult to see but try and have a look at the drivers side of the front cover and make sure you can see some of the gasket? if not the chances are it has slipped! have you had a word with whoever fitted it?

Thanks Rob, that's helpful... it's not my motor but someone who doesn't have easy internet access. I'll pass it on; appreciate your input.

[Blipi]

Hello

Tis me with the issues.

The car has been primed 4 times even though a serpentine shouldn't need it. Guage lifts slightly on start up but doesn't even reach the zero. There is no oiol pressure.

Gasketts have been changed and checked, Blockages checked, ECU re set, practically everything.

I'm supposed to be going to Callander Classics from tomorrow and am in Scotland still trying to get her sorted.

Any suggestions welcome please, even if it does sound obscure! Something must have been overlooked or something, there isn't really a lot to check!

Thans all.

[jimothy]

Have you actually got any oil in the engine?

[Blipi]

Duh, what do you think...!

[jonnyb]

Is oil getting around the engine? Sometimes the gauges can fail. I might be worth taking the rocker covers off and checking. Also, does the oil light go out? this is the back up to the pressure gauge, and if it goes out then oil pressure is there but it might be quite low.

[pupp]

jimothy said:

Have you actually got any oil in the engine?

Cheers for that, really helpful

[v8 racing]

It does sound gasket related to me? there is a big difference between the interim front cover you have and a sepentine front cover gasket from a range rover if the later has been fitted this would cause these symptoms, i am not saying this is the problem but it does look very likely?

[GreenV8S]

If you've satisfied yourself that you really aren't getting any oil pressure, and you've ruled out the gasket problem that Rob described, and the oil pressure relief valve, then I would look at the oil pickup next. If it's cracked/loose then the pump will suck in air instead of oil and you'll never get any pressure no matter how many times you prime it.

[pupp]

Thanks guys. Again, appreciated.

[Cider Andy]

You say the oil pump turns, presumably you mean while the engine is running - how can you be sure? I don't know which timing cover the engine's fitted with, but there is one which can be fitted without the oil pump drive gear. I can't imagine it's this, but anything's worth a look.

[slikk]

I know you say that the pick up pipe is okay, but have you checked inside the strainer cover? Mine had a piece of silicon from the sump gasket inside it which would sit inside the "bowl" only to be drawn up across the gauze when there was suction.

HTH

Kim

[v8 racing]

Just out of interest going back to the gasket, did it have a kind of red stripe on it?

[Blipi]

All the above has been checked and is fine.

The gasket holes all definatley line up and is the correct one. The Gasket was green with a black stripe.

Also spoken to Holly at RPI who has also gone over lots of stuff already checked half a dozen times.

The guage rises to zero still but no further and oil is deffo not getting into the engine or doesn't even appear to be reaching the pump.

At a total confused loss here!

Thanks loads for your help so far. Further suggestions of any type (but hold back the fire option for now please) will be welcome.

A very very frustrated Blipi :'(

[v8 racing]

blipi sorry to keep goin on about this BUT, the gasket will line up fine on the block, however on the front cover there is an extra hole on the front cover that wont be sealed by the gasket, is there any way of telling who bought the gasket and what it was ordered for?

[v8 racing]

ps they may have changed the red stripe to a green stripe?

[v8 racing]

stephanie just to put my mind at rest if you have a digi camera and the front cover off, take a pic of the gasket laying on the front cover and email it to me at [e-mail]

Edited by v8 racing on Friday 18th August 19:47