Lubrication System Diagnosis

(Difference between revisions)

Revision as of 05:37, 29 December 2006

Low Oil Pressure

First, note that it is normal for oil pressure to drop as the engine warms up.

But for oil pressure below this, potential causes are:

1. Too much clearance in engine bearings
2. worn oil pump
3. weak oil pump pressure regulator (spring)

Lost Oil Pressure

Potential causes:

1. Oil has leaked out of engine
   • check the oil level!
2. gear fell off pump
3. drive gear fell off distributor
4. shaft of pump broke
5. impeller slipped off shaft
6. pressure regulator spring broke
7. oil pressure sender broken
8. clogged filter (and filter has no relief valve)
9. clogged oil passageway
10. pressure releif thing stuck open
11. debris blocking oil passage (old gasket, or Silicon gasket material or something)

If the oil filter is clogged, you won't lose pressure in the system (unless it is an archaic filter, these days they all have a bypass system).

If the bypass relief in the oil filter sticks open, that won't cause pressure drop. It only means your oil won't be filtered.

Oil filters are nearly foolproof these days.