Vxr8 oil pressure zero

[wallsjay]

Driving home yesterday my oil pressure dropped to zero and the check oil light on dash came on. Stopped immediately

Recovered to the garage today did a oil filter change but still no pressure. So pretty much convinced I have a defunct engine. Either main bearing or pump

Options.

Engine rebuild.? What type of cost or timeframe are they?

Crate engine swap out. ? Do I go standard ? Also both monkfish and wilkinshaw don't have any slots till mid November so can anyone recommend a alternative. Prefably Midlands based if possible

Finally anything. I need to look for or worth changing at the same time?

Pretty much any information gratefully received


Thanks in advance.

[davegreg]

Just had a new crate LS3 swapped into my VXR8 after mine blew - final bill was around £6.5k ( engine was £5400 inc vat) at AAS in Newcastle. They had my car for about a month in total, there were a few issues along the way but all were resolved before I received the car back. Good luck...

Edited by davegreg on Monday 12th October 20:38

[anonymous-user]

Are you sure it's not the oil pressure sensor or maybe stuck pressure relief valve?

[snowwolf]

Like wormus mentioned, more likely oil sender unit, if it ticks over ok with no problems then it could easily be that, but get it changed first before driving again if possible get a pressure gauge fitted to find out

[wallsjay]

Previously the oil pressure was running lower than normal ie 1.5 when hot I had monkfish check oil pressure vs' gauge. And the gauge was reading spot on.

Pressure has always been better when cold and reduced when hot. Monkfish said this was typical of main bearings hence my thinking.

[anonymous-user]

http://www.grrrr8.net/showthread.php?t=13771

[throwyourbike]

Is it not normal for oil pressure to drop when the engine is up to temp?

For example, my Ro idles at 3 bar when cold. This drops to 2.5 at operating temp and I have seen it as low as 2 if stuck in traffic on a warm day.

[wallsjay]

Ok that makes me think possibly oil pump. Am I likely to have done much damage the engine turned over after oil and filter no problem sounded a little noisy but has always had piston slap on start up. Didn't leave it running longer than 20 seconds


Is oil pump a big job for average mechanic? Specialist far to busy

Thanks again.

[sidster]

Oil pump is quite straightforward to swap but getting the sump off is a pain in the ass ,either engine out or drop front subframe

[Boosted LS1]

And pay particular attention when refitting the oil pick up into the pump before clamping it to the stud.

[snowwolf]

wallsjay said:

Previously the oil pressure was running lower than normal ie 1.5 when hot I had monkfish check oil pressure vs' gauge. And the gauge was reading spot on.

Pressure has always been better when cold and reduced when hot. Monkfish said this was typical of main bearings hence my thinking.

When you say pressure gauge reading spot on, is that spot on with what is indicated on dash pressure gauge or spot on normal VXR8 pressure ? just re read your post and MF confirms gauge and in car pressure to be the same, pressure when cold will always read higher than when normal running temperature

Edited by snowwolf on Monday 12th October 22:01

[snowwolf]

If no oil pressure, the bottom end would fail very quickly and be ultra noisy, cold start that are clanky are pretty normal on LS1 and 2 due to slap, which is not a problem at all, with engine running take filler cap off and see if there is oil flow up in the rocker cover.

[ARAF]

snowwolf said:

If no oil pressure, the bottom end would fail very quickly and be ultra noisy, cold start that are clanky are pretty normal on LS1 and 2 due to slap, which is not a problem at all, with engine running take filler cap off and see if there is oil flow up in the rocker cover.

I was going to suggest similar. Maybe remove the left hand rocker cover, and see if it's dry? As you don't put the oil in this one, it has to be pumped from below.

[wallsjay]

Sorry gauge was reading the same as monkfish mechanic gauge measured at the oil filter adaptor.

I will let it run tomorrow for a minute and see if it's the normal slap. Once warm the engine sounds quiet to me.

Any idea on labour time or cost to fit a pump?

Thanks guys.

[snowwolf]

wallsjay said:

Sorry gauge was reading the same as monkfish mechanic gauge measured at the oil filter adaptor.

I will let it run tomorrow for a minute and see if it's the normal slap. Once warm the engine sounds quiet to me.

Any idea on labour time or cost to fit a pump?

Thanks guys.

How far you drive from MF to home? if pressure was really low at the crank I would guess it would fail pretty quick, how many miles have you done with low pressure indicating on gauge ?

[stevieturbo]

There is almost no chance whatsoever of oil pressure just dropping to zero. It just doesnt happen.

Fit a known working mechanical gauge and spin the engine over on the key ( disable from starting if you want ) and test for oil pressure.

Or if you dont have a gauge, unscrew the OEM sender and spin it over and oil should come out the hole quite rapidly.

[wallsjay]

Let me try and explain

I have owned car since January was running fine daily drive.

July I noticed the oil pressure when hot idle was only showing 1.5 on the gauge so at that point I took the car to monkfish and they put it on there gauge. There gauge showed that the oil presure was low and the in car gauge was reading the same as there's. 1.5 at idle. When you Rev the car it would rise to 3. Monkfish said this although low was within the peramiters of the engine.

I have used the car daily since then often 150 mile a day. Same thing good presure when starting and cold with it dropping at idle to 1.5.

Sunday the car beeps and hot oil pressure showing 0 at idle rises to 1.5 when reved. After oil and filter change car was started but only briefly as mechanic was worried about noise but when cold it has always suffered piston slap.

Hope this helps

[wallsjay]

Where is the oil sender located ? I will get this removed this morning

Cheers

[BartW]

It's at the back of the engine on top of the valley cover. Right behind the intake manifold. IIRC you need 27mm tall socket + ratchet to unscrew it.

[wallsjay]

Cheers.