Hello all. I've searched this site and others extensively and havn't gotten a good answer yet.
I recently bought a used 2000 v6 3800 5 speed firebird. After doing normal tuneup stuff to it (change oil, plugs, wires, filters, pcv) It ran quite a bit better, but then I noticed I was getting no oil pressure at idle. I bought a mechanical gauge to make sure it wasn't the stock gauge or sender, and it reads the same.
I was going to replace the oil pressure regulator valve and spring, but the dealer only had a spring in stock, so I took the oil filter adapter apart and replaced the spring. The valve was stuck where it was, I had to hammer it in a little to unstick it, then it just popped out. When I put it back together the valve was sliding freely. Started the car up and it said 16'ish psi at idle. I wasn't sure what the reccomended psi is so I figured better than zero. I took it to get some gas and when I started it back up after getting gas it read 0 again. If I touch the gas it'll jump to about 20, and rev it harder it'll get up to about 30. But from what I've read, even that's still too low. (heard 60psi a few places)
I took it home and havn't really messed with it since.
Anyway, I ordered the oil pump gearset from the dealer and have it now, but I hear those rarely go out and I would hate to do all that work and still not have fixed it. I heard it could be the oil pick-up tube/screen being clogged. Seems possible. But once again I don't know for sure and that's alot of work to get the oil pan off to check on a possibility.
I need some help guys. Anyone have this specifically happen to them? I just want to know exactly what the problem is so I can go and fix that, instead of doing one thing after an other until it's fixed.
Thanks in advance.
[ August 20, 2004, 01:56 AM: Message edited by: troyf4i ]
I recently bought a used 2000 v6 3800 5 speed firebird. After doing normal tuneup stuff to it (change oil, plugs, wires, filters, pcv) It ran quite a bit better, but then I noticed I was getting no oil pressure at idle. I bought a mechanical gauge to make sure it wasn't the stock gauge or sender, and it reads the same.
I was going to replace the oil pressure regulator valve and spring, but the dealer only had a spring in stock, so I took the oil filter adapter apart and replaced the spring. The valve was stuck where it was, I had to hammer it in a little to unstick it, then it just popped out. When I put it back together the valve was sliding freely. Started the car up and it said 16'ish psi at idle. I wasn't sure what the reccomended psi is so I figured better than zero. I took it to get some gas and when I started it back up after getting gas it read 0 again. If I touch the gas it'll jump to about 20, and rev it harder it'll get up to about 30. But from what I've read, even that's still too low. (heard 60psi a few places)
I took it home and havn't really messed with it since.
Anyway, I ordered the oil pump gearset from the dealer and have it now, but I hear those rarely go out and I would hate to do all that work and still not have fixed it. I heard it could be the oil pick-up tube/screen being clogged. Seems possible. But once again I don't know for sure and that's alot of work to get the oil pan off to check on a possibility.
I need some help guys. Anyone have this specifically happen to them? I just want to know exactly what the problem is so I can go and fix that, instead of doing one thing after an other until it's fixed.
Thanks in advance.
[ August 20, 2004, 01:56 AM: Message edited by: troyf4i ]
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