Zero oil pressure!! I've tried everything!! HELP?!

[DPL]

Here's the story:

I went to swap out my distributor with a billet electronic ignition system.  Everything seemed to be fine but when I started the car I had very low oil pressure.  Sometimes I had no oil pressure, other times I had a little (5-20).  Prior to this I had 40 but have only put maybe 100 miles on the car since finishing the resto.

Now I have zero oil pressure all the time.

The gear and shaft look perfect - like new, not rounded at all.  Even though the oil pump seemed fine, I replaced it with a new one just to be sure.  Still having the same problem, I hoisted the car and removed the oil pan.  I found a crack in the pick up tube, not huge but likely the problem.  In goes a new pickup tube.

I just poured 5 litres in and guess what, still no oil pressure!  And my guage works. 

I sure appreciate any input - I don't know where next to turn.

[firefighter3931]

Try using a priming rod in the oil pump with a reversible drill....you will know when the pump is primed because the drill will bog down. 

It sounds like the pump hasn't primed. 



Ron

[DPL]

Ah Ron...always coming to the rescue!

I did this prior to replacing the pick up tube.  I removed the oil filter and sure enough oil pushed out hard.

Here's a weird thing though - again, before I replaced the pick up tube, I was running out of ideas.

I replaced the new oil filter with another new one I had on hand.

Started the car and oil pressure grew to around 20.  Within 5 minutes of running though, oil pressure fell off to nothing again.

[firefighter3931]

It's losing prime somehow or the bypass in the oilpump is stuck open. You might have a defective oil filter but that's a stretch....but not impossible. Try again with the priming rod first....then check the bypass and possibly the oil filter. I've seen Fram filters collapse internally. 


Ron

[TylerCharger69]

perhaps  something clogged somewhere???  Did you check to see that your "O" rings were intact on the pump itself??  The one that inputs into the block where the drive gear catches!!!  Sometimes in persuading those pumps in....the "O" ring gets damaged or twisted and could cause those results

[tecmopar]

5 litres is a little light in the oil pan but anyway, remove the oil pressure sender and spin the pump with the drill, make sure that the passage is not blocked, I've seen this quite a few times over the years. If things are not really cleaned After a rebuild some of the junk goes right to this spot. You may have pressure but its just not reading, good luck.

[DPL]

OK - we tried to prime the pump and still did not get any pressure.

I loosened the filter just enough to spew a bunch of oil out while spinning the pump again.

Tightened up the filter and that did it - the pump primed up and built pressure almost immediately.

I'm back on the road again!  And just in time for the Langley Cruise In here in BC (September 12).  Anyone from BC Canada will know this is one massive car show and a lot of fun to attend.

Thanks again everyone!

[moparguy01]

i would replace that filter asap. and if it is orange and says the F word, toss it in the trash can and get a good filter.