Low oil pressure after clutch install???
02-06-2013, 04:30 PM
#1
Low oil pressure after clutch install??? I took my car to a mechanic to get a new clutch installed. It took quite a while to finish up since I had to wait for the clutch to be delivered plus the mechanic re surfaced the input shaft since it looked a bit worn. The whole process took around 2 weeks without starting the car.
Anyway, when it was all said and done, the mechanic started her up and told me he was getting very low oil pressure. It's reading around 10 psi. Prior to the clutch install, the car was running just fine. So he did An oil change and told me the oil was pretty dirty and he found what seemed to be paper bits in the oil.
After the oil change he told me the oil pressure climbed back up to normal and after a quick test drive it seemed fine again. But then as he was moving the car outside the shop, the pressure dropped back down.
Could it be the oil pump that went bad all of a sudden?
Anyway, when it was all said and done, the mechanic started her up and told me he was getting very low oil pressure. It's reading around 10 psi. Prior to the clutch install, the car was running just fine. So he did An oil change and told me the oil was pretty dirty and he found what seemed to be paper bits in the oil.
After the oil change he told me the oil pressure climbed back up to normal and after a quick test drive it seemed fine again. But then as he was moving the car outside the shop, the pressure dropped back down.
Could it be the oil pump that went bad all of a sudden?
02-06-2013, 07:26 PM
#4
Paper bits in the oil sound like filter media (filter disintegrated). Could be that the oil passage to the sensor is clogged with that paper debris. Since the pump was working before the install and nothing touched it (I assume...), I can't see it just magically 'going bad'.
Have him check the oil again (could still have junk in the pan/system).
It's a pain but he may need to pull the oil pressure sensor and blow out the passage (which will probably require pulling the intake manifold). There is an oil galley plug on the drivers side at the back of the block. He could pull that and blow air down through the oil pressure sensor hole.
Have him check the oil again (could still have junk in the pan/system).
It's a pain but he may need to pull the oil pressure sensor and blow out the passage (which will probably require pulling the intake manifold). There is an oil galley plug on the drivers side at the back of the block. He could pull that and blow air down through the oil pressure sensor hole.
02-06-2013, 07:45 PM
#5
Thanks. He already did 2 oil changes and even removed the oil pan to inspect and clean it.
I was doing some researching and read about the oil pressure sensor and how they are pretty easy to damage and break. I know it's a little far off but do you think it could've gotten damaged while pulling the transmission for the clutch install?
I was doing some researching and read about the oil pressure sensor and how they are pretty easy to damage and break. I know it's a little far off but do you think it could've gotten damaged while pulling the transmission for the clutch install?
02-06-2013, 07:52 PM
#6
"Possible", sure, anything is "possible" (he could have yanked the engine down and smacked the sensor against the firewall).
"Likely", not really... I have broken them before, but that was hitting it with an intake. If it were "broken" I don't think you would get any signal/pressure and you would have an oil leak. Easy to check though (reach behind the manifold and see if it is intact.
You mentioned he pulled the pan, did he remove the pickup tube? The O-rings on the pickup tube (tube-to-pump) are notorious for getting damaged or being pinched when installing the pickup tube. This can cause all kinds of problems. BUT, that would not explain the good/bad/good/bad/etc you are having.
If I were to bet, I still think it's the oil sensor passage clogged.
"Likely", not really... I have broken them before, but that was hitting it with an intake. If it were "broken" I don't think you would get any signal/pressure and you would have an oil leak. Easy to check though (reach behind the manifold and see if it is intact.
You mentioned he pulled the pan, did he remove the pickup tube? The O-rings on the pickup tube (tube-to-pump) are notorious for getting damaged or being pinched when installing the pickup tube. This can cause all kinds of problems. BUT, that would not explain the good/bad/good/bad/etc you are having.
If I were to bet, I still think it's the oil sensor passage clogged.
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02-06-2013, 10:03 PM
#8
edit: As soon as I walked away I got to thinking (back recesses of my mind remembering things). I remember people having issues with the bypass getting jammed open (to varying degrees) and that causing issues. If you had a bunch of trash in your oil, has certainly gone through the pump. Mention that to your mechanic tomorrow. The bypass plunger and spring can be removed and cleaned. The plunger should move freely in the bore.
Last edited by 2001CamaroGuy; 02-06-2013 at 10:14 PM.
02-06-2013, 10:30 PM
#13
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02-07-2013, 08:36 AM
#16
Ask him if he packed grease to remove the pilot bearing instead of pulling it out with a blind hole puller...
If he packed grease and knocked it out, he probably knocked out another plug in the block causing internal bleeding.
If he packed grease and knocked it out, he probably knocked out another plug in the block causing internal bleeding.
02-07-2013, 08:38 AM
#17
No, I was talking about this plug (on the bottom of the pump where the spring is sticking out in the picture):
I considered the barbell plug in the back of the block but would be surprised if that is it. You didn't mention any oil leaks and the mechanic would have had no reason (would have been foolish) to take the rear cover off just to change a clutch. Now if he also replaced your rear main seal, then he might have removed the cover and thus pushed the barbell in too far. But that still would not explain why the pressure went bad, then good, then back to bad.
I considered the barbell plug in the back of the block but would be surprised if that is it. You didn't mention any oil leaks and the mechanic would have had no reason (would have been foolish) to take the rear cover off just to change a clutch. Now if he also replaced your rear main seal, then he might have removed the cover and thus pushed the barbell in too far. But that still would not explain why the pressure went bad, then good, then back to bad.
02-08-2013, 07:06 PM
#18
I didnt get a chance to talk meet up with the mechanic yesterday but i did today.
2001camaroguy the plug youre talking about was starting to go bad on the oil pump. But he had already bought a new oil pump and it started working fine again. He told me the pressure went higher than it used to but not too high, but then after it warmed up, it dropped back down.
There are no oil leaks and he didnt remove the rear engine cover. He told me he checked and cleaned the oil pickup tube and o-rings.
He also mentioned hearing a tick noise on the valvetrain. He kinda described it as a lifter tick. (im not sure if its part of the low oil pressure)
So now my question is what would cause low oil pressure when warm?
I almost forgot to add, that he thinks the problem is with something that goes attached to the cam. He told me the name of the piece but in spanish and i dont know spanish parts very well. Any ideas?
2001camaroguy the plug youre talking about was starting to go bad on the oil pump. But he had already bought a new oil pump and it started working fine again. He told me the pressure went higher than it used to but not too high, but then after it warmed up, it dropped back down.
There are no oil leaks and he didnt remove the rear engine cover. He told me he checked and cleaned the oil pickup tube and o-rings.
He also mentioned hearing a tick noise on the valvetrain. He kinda described it as a lifter tick. (im not sure if its part of the low oil pressure)
So now my question is what would cause low oil pressure when warm?
I almost forgot to add, that he thinks the problem is with something that goes attached to the cam. He told me the name of the piece but in spanish and i dont know spanish parts very well. Any ideas?
