Help with Sick Spyder...

[scooby_doo_do]

I'm guessing it's sick - Just taken it for a drive thinking it's a nice day and all - didn't go far prob less than 10 miles and noticed the oil pressure dropped to 1 bar when i came up to a halt at the lights- now i'm not 100% sure what it should read - but after my trip to Le Mans i'm pretty sure the lowest it went was 2 Bar. So i took the car home - also forgetting to turn the fans/pump on whilst in traffic and the temp went to about 95ish - and had a quite a bit of water coming from the underneath. When driving the pressure went to about 2 1/2 - 3 bar.

So managed to get the car home whilst keeping an eye on the temp gauge and oil pressure.

Engine still too hot to check anything but there's quite a bit of oil underneath the car (on the chassis etc, no drips), and i noticed the red fluid also on the chassis setion and gearbox ( Here - http://www.tripkings.co.uk/ultima/large/0041.jpg ) and also on the underneath of the exhausts ( here - http://www.tripkings.co.uk/ultima/large/0030.jpg )

I also noticed this wire not atatched to anything - but can't see where it goes ( here - http://www.tripkings.co.uk/ultima/large/0028.jpg )

Hopefully it's nothing too bad - but im going to wait till i get it to a garage to check out first :-(

Craig.

[San Diego GTR]

I'm guessing you don't open the engine compartment often to "show it off". It is really dirty. I sure wouldn't be driving it with oil pressure that low, unless you're trying to find a reason to buy a new engine or trans. The first pic looks like trans fluid. The second pic looks like a +12v wire. Thats a bad thing to have a wire like that just sitting loose, probably ought to tow the car to the garage.
Good luck,
Paul

[Steve_D]

What engine and spec?
What oil are you running type and grade?
15psi at tickover on a hot engine is not ideal but again not the end of the world. Maybe your engine would prefer a slightly thicker oil.

You are going to have to identify the red fluid or get someone else to.

I'm told thermostats are good at turning fans on at the right time......

Assuming your car has the factory arrangement of swirl pot and header tank on the cooling system where was the water level in the header tank at the start of your journey? Many make the mistake of filling it up when it should be less than a third full when cold to allow for expansion.

Steve

[scooby_doo_do]

The car's a 5.7 v8 Chevy - The engine was a lot cleaner before i took it to Le Mans, haven't had a chance to clean it yet - or repaint the gearbox ;-) - as i know the paints started to come off.

I used 10-45 in the engine to top it up when i got back from Le Mans. I'm going to take it to the garage up the road this week - it's less than 5 mins drive - so should be ok - I'll check all the levels before i go.

Just started the car to get it into the garage and the oil pressure on tickover was just over 3 bar. I'm confused, but not a mechanic - so i'll leave it be for the experts i think ;-)

[kylemrushall]

Where are you in the uk?? im sure a local Ultima owner would be willing to pop in and have a look, if im near i will.

The oil pressure is too low and needs investigating, i seem to remember you have not had the car long, did you purchase it privately?

[scooby_doo_do]

Thanks, I purchased the car about two weeks ago, picked it up from West yorkshire, and drove it to Le Mans the next day. I'm in Chelmsford Essex. So it's done 1200 miles in 3 days of driving basically.

Checked the oil level earlier and it's regesetering near the min level. Checked the water under the rad cap, and it looks quite dark and murky - I'm hoping it's not oil - that'll explain where all the oil's been going.

Jumping to conclusions here, but any idea what a head gasket for a 5.7 chevy will cost to get changed?

Need to get it to a garage, or have someone who knows about these car's to take a look.

[qwick]

Normally with broken head gaskets water goes into oil, rather than oil into water but I suppose it's not impossible. I think you simply have a few leaks. Worth seeing a mechanic for peace of mind but I reckon drain the fluids, oil and water and fill them back up, find a home for that wire (where does the other end go?) and then degrease the engine bay. Drive for a few miles and look out for leaks.

1200 miles is quite a demand on a new to you car and you don't know what issues however minor you bought it with. Old oil could be part of the lowish pressure and 95 degrees temperature isn't so bad. I've heard of cars designed to run at over 100 degrees.

Oh and if the oil and water haven't been changed for a while it will be worth doing the brake fluid too.

Rich

[scooby_doo_do]

thanks Guys, getting it to a garage this week hopefully.

On the wire here http://www.tripkings.co.uk/ultima/large/0028.jpg - the other end goes to to the same place as the red wire in the background (see it at the bottom of the pic coming up) - i'm guessing it's a sensor wire of some sort?

As you said, the engine looks filthy, so looking forward to spending a day polishing and re-painting it up once all the problems are solved. - Apparently baby oil is the best thing to use on the polished items?

I'll let you know how i get on with it..

[shithotfast]

Hi there, The wire in the photo is the oil pressure sender wires. IE there are two wires which go to your oil pressure gauge on the dash. If the wire is loose it could show a lower reading I guess, but I would expect the gauge to work or not. But thats what the wires are anyway.

My oil pressure drops when hot and tickover (what revs does it tickover at?) Would suggest 750-1000 max. At very low tick over with old thin oil I would expect low pressure, as long as it rises with the revs. Mine never goes over 3/4 on the gauge and my engine is fine (doesn't burn any oil)

The red oil is the gbox oil. Just check all the fittings are tight from the gbox oil trap etc. If you have lost your gbox oil, suggest you get it checked very soon. No oil in the gbox wont help!

If you ever want to compare notes - my car is close to identical to yours and same setup. Your welcome to come and visit!

[shithotfast]

scooby_doo_do said:

thanks Guys, getting it to a garage this week hopefully.



As you said, the engine looks filthy, so looking forward to spending a day polishing and re-painting it up once all the problems are solved. - Apparently baby oil is the best thing to use on the polished items?

I'll let you know how i get on with it..

I thought it was quite clean! Mine is worst but then I use it a lot rather than just polish it. You have the better drive shafts, not the old ford ones which is good news.

[andygtt]

scooby_doo_do said:

Thanks, I purchased the car about two weeks ago, picked it up from West yorkshire, and drove it to Le Mans the next day. I'm in Chelmsford Essex. So it's done 1200 miles in 3 days of driving basically.

Checked the oil level earlier and it's regesetering near the min level. Checked the water under the rad cap, and it looks quite dark and murky - I'm hoping it's not oil - that'll explain where all the oil's been going.

Jumping to conclusions here, but any idea what a head gasket for a 5.7 chevy will cost to get changed?

Need to get it to a garage, or have someone who knows about these car's to take a look.

Your not far from me so I could have a look for you, I'm no expert but have built a few engines both mine and another Ultima so have a vague idea as to what to look for on the SBC.

Head gasket is cheap but it may be worth having the head looked at to see if there is another reason for the failure.

[martinlaw]

The grade of oil should be a good quality 20:50 .

My oil pressure on idle (850rpm) dips to just over 1 bar but as soon as revs rise oil pressure increases to 2.5 - 3.5 bar (when hot).

Gear box should have 3.5 ltrs of oil in it.

Pressure test the water system to find leak. Do a compression test.

Would not mess with new head gaskets until all other possibilities have been ruled out.

Cheers,
Martin

[scooby_doo_do]

Thanks Guys - Just been out and checked the oil as it's cold. First reading of the dipstick (Dipstick bends round like a C (Not that bad)) and the level was very low. Straightened the dipstick up so it was level, and hey presto, oil level dead on the max fill line? Is it possible that i overfilled it?

Checked the water level and it's about 1/4 full on the tank low down behind the passenger seat, but to the max where the rad cap is.

There is a few drops of oil on the garage floor about 2 foot in from the rear bumper.

As for the loose wire - on the sensor ((I believe) where the red wire goes to on the picture) - there are two black screw connections (http://www.tripkings.co.uk/ultima/large/0028.jpg) one of the wires goes to the screw closest too us, and the other wire is hanging loose? - i'm guessing it should be on there - but for some strange reason it's been taken off and someone's stuck a small nut and bolt on it? I'm not going to connect it up before i get it checked out - but i've never seen any other dash lights except the indicators and full beam - should i?

Would be nice to meet a few fellow members once the car's all fixed :-) as i'm only a beginer with these! as i'm sure you can all tell...

[Graham-P]

Drop me a line and I can come to you or you to me, Andygtt might even come along as he likes to keep his hand in!!!

[scooby_doo_do]

Thanks Guys - I'm in all day Saturday putting up decking in the garden if you fancy taking a look?

Where abouts are you from?

[Boosted LS1]

At a guess I'd say your oil is far to thin plus having been on a long drive you've used a lot of it up. The smaller capacity left in the sump has meant that it's stayed hotter and this shows as less pressure at idle. You may have also purchased a non synthetic so it's thinner now then when you bought it.

I'd go and buy a nice 20/50 from halfords, fill up to the correct level and see what you have after that.

[scooby_doo_do]

Just checked, can't do sat as i'm having my garage painted :-(

Thanks for all your help guys.