Normal Oil pressure on a 3.4 (NO OIL PRESSURE !)

[RAR]

Now that I think I got some of the other problems with this car (or was it a mistake?)...

The oil pressure (using the factory gauge) at idle (it is a 5-speed so this is around 750 RPM) read just above the red line.

Yesterday I took it out, and the car was stuck in traffic and the temp started rising (until about 235 when the fans kick on...), after the temp went up I noticed the oil pressure was reading zero, but would rise when I reved the engine up a little bit.

Last night I bought I mechanical gauge and tee it off the factory sender - started the car and both gauges read about the same (about 15 pounds at ldle), after the car warmed up they read the same at about 11 lbs.

According to the Hanes manual the minimum oil pressure is 15 lbs at 1100 RPM, again this apears low - what does it read on your cars?

Also the car is a 95 firebird with a 3.4L using mobile 10W-30 syntetic mix oil.

Thanks

[ August 20, 2003: Message edited by: RAR ]</p>

[93v6firebird]

If you changed the oil sending unit and its now up to about 15-20 at idle youre fine
you also need to be putting 5W30 in there.

As the car gets warmer the oil pressure on our cars tends to go down. The temperature also almost redlines before the fan comes on if youre stuck in traffic. Turn the AC on to bring the temp down.

Begin to get worried now if the new oil sending unit does not cause the gauge to respond to higher RPMs.
Might want to look at your serpentine belt too...

[95Batmobile]

Mine usually sits a little above that first line (about20lbs?) at idle about 45lbs when I'm on the gas. It doesn't hurt anything, but if you want to stop it from doing that run 20w50 oil in there. Won't hurt anything. It will run about 30lbs at idle.

[93v6firebird]

Hes from Cincinati... doesnt it get damned cold there?
In that case 20W30 will be too thick for cold weather

[RAR]

Well I drove the now rolling paper weight to work...

It did it again - the oil pressure when to below the red line - this time I have my mechanical gauge under the hood (just so I did not have to cut up the firewall - anyway this is a problem only at idle).

So I drove it on the highway (going about 65 or so - or 1700 or 2000 RPM) the oil pressure was around 30 lbs (on the factory gauge). The tempature was reading around 180 so that was good.

When I got off the highway (now on side streets) I noticed the check gauges light is on and the oil pressure is below the red line (i.e. zero). I pull off the side of the road and check my mechanical gauge - it reads around 5-7 lbs at idle.

I also noted the oil in the mechanical gauge is pulsating - I never noticed this before.

Any suggestions, before I get rid of this piece of crap - it has caused me nothing but probems for the last month. ....

I can get the oil pump and gasket from autozone for 50, and 35. - is this worth the hasel (sp?) ?

Anybody replaced the oil pump on the car? - about how much time is the average mechanic (me) looking at - I have access to a pit and a lift, but things look tight in that engine compartment...

Thanks,
TakenForALoop

[RAR]

Also (I forgot) the car has 79,000 miles - this does not seam right....

Thanks again,
RAR

[RAR]

Also 93v6firebird, why would the belt make a difference? the oil pump runs off the cam shaft internal to the engine.

Or were you talking about the temp and the belt slipping on the water pump?

Thanks,
RAR

[ August 20, 2003: Message edited by: RAR ]</p>

[3.4 slow to go]

How high do your gauges go on the 4th gens? Mine goes up a least to 80lbs, and eithe ridling or running, it's always in teh 46-60 lb range.

[camaro_dakota]

I think you gotta jack the motor up to get the oil pan off its a pita but its worth it if it would fix your ride... most likely by now if that was the problem it would have caused damage and its not gunna be fun... bearings and so on

[wolf]

if it starts clicking like it has mechanical lifters,I would start being worried

[RAR]

Ya, I do not know what I am going to do...

I got to get the thing dollyed (sp?) back to my house sometime this week. I might take a look at it this weekend.

So has anyone pulled the oil pan off in the car? If so is there anything to look out for?
Anything that will make the job smother..?

Thanks,
RAR

[3.4 slow to go]

rmove engne mount bolts, the long ones, rasie w/jack using wood block on crank pulley, watch the tranny fluid lines whle raising. Raise just enough to get at oil pan bolts in the front.

[RAR]

Got the pan off....

Pulled the first main cap off (front) does not look good...

The thing is real shiny on the back side - I am going to get some plastagauge to see what the clearences are...

Looks like the thing might be fried...

Also when you rock the crank back and forth there is a clunking sound comming from (what I think is the timing chain)...

Any other suggestions while I have this thing off...

RAR II

[Original 4th Gen V6]

Yeah like 3.4slowtogo's oil pressure readings, mine fluctuates from 40-60 sometimes a bit lower at idle, and will get up to around 75

[BirdmanV6]

I got a 3.4L with 95,000 on it. At idle it reads 40 and when im on it its around 75.