oil pressure sensor and engine stall
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Lowell MA
oil pressure sensor and engine stall
Hello,
Once again, I am a newbie at this, but I do have a basic knowlege on mechanics.
My engine stopped on my 79, while I was driving. I noticed that oil pressure was low (<20lbs). The car would not immediately start, but after an hour it did. I immediately took it to the nearest gas station and added some oil, a little over a quart. I have fixed cause of the low oil, a bad seal on the oil pan.
Question: Does the oil sensor or any other component, has the ability of shutting the engine when the pressure drops????
I am glad that it happed, since I did not notice the oil pressure going down. But now I am concerned with why the engine died. I have checked the obious, since recently a tune up was performed (timing, sparks, rotor cap, air filters, etc). I did not change the fuel filter...
Once again, I am a newbie at this, but I do have a basic knowlege on mechanics.
My engine stopped on my 79, while I was driving. I noticed that oil pressure was low (<20lbs). The car would not immediately start, but after an hour it did. I immediately took it to the nearest gas station and added some oil, a little over a quart. I have fixed cause of the low oil, a bad seal on the oil pan.
Question: Does the oil sensor or any other component, has the ability of shutting the engine when the pressure drops????
I am glad that it happed, since I did not notice the oil pressure going down. But now I am concerned with why the engine died. I have checked the obious, since recently a tune up was performed (timing, sparks, rotor cap, air filters, etc). I did not change the fuel filter...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,135
Likes: 2
From: Dayton Oh
I don't think the oil pressure guage has anything to do with your 79 stopping. On my 79 a few weeks ago, I was diagnoising a problem with my oil pressure sending unit. It was reading pegged to the very highest position. To check, I unplugged the wire at the sending unit. Instant zero oil pressure showing. Engine kept running.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,010
Likes: 3
From: Moon Twp. PA USA
Originally Posted by jrobles
Hello,
Once again, I am a newbie at this, but I do have a basic knowlege on mechanics.
My engine stopped on my 79, while I was driving. I noticed that oil pressure was low (<20lbs). The car would not immediately start, but after an hour it did. I immediately took it to the nearest gas station and added some oil, a little over a quart. I have fixed cause of the low oil, a bad seal on the oil pan.
Question: Does the oil sensor or any other component, has the ability of shutting the engine when the pressure drops????
I am glad that it happed, since I did not notice the oil pressure going down. But now I am concerned with why the engine died. I have checked the obious, since recently a tune up was performed (timing, sparks, rotor cap, air filters, etc). I did not change the fuel filter...
Once again, I am a newbie at this, but I do have a basic knowlege on mechanics.
My engine stopped on my 79, while I was driving. I noticed that oil pressure was low (<20lbs). The car would not immediately start, but after an hour it did. I immediately took it to the nearest gas station and added some oil, a little over a quart. I have fixed cause of the low oil, a bad seal on the oil pan.
Question: Does the oil sensor or any other component, has the ability of shutting the engine when the pressure drops????
I am glad that it happed, since I did not notice the oil pressure going down. But now I am concerned with why the engine died. I have checked the obious, since recently a tune up was performed (timing, sparks, rotor cap, air filters, etc). I did not change the fuel filter...
C6 the C5 of tomorrow
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,665
Likes: 2
From: Twin Cities Minnesota
Your engine is toast.
A low oil pressure reading by it's self wouldn't stop the engine, but a lack of oil will cause low oil pressure and will cause the engine to seize.....
What happens is that the bearings loose oil and they get metal to metal contact. This heats up the bearings untill one welds itself to the crankshaft or rod. This causes the engine to stop.
When the engine cools the bearings cool off and the engine runs.
Time for a rebuild...
if you don't the engine will develop a nasty knock and possibly break something important like the block...
A low oil pressure reading by it's self wouldn't stop the engine, but a lack of oil will cause low oil pressure and will cause the engine to seize.....
What happens is that the bearings loose oil and they get metal to metal contact. This heats up the bearings untill one welds itself to the crankshaft or rod. This causes the engine to stop.
When the engine cools the bearings cool off and the engine runs.
Time for a rebuild...
if you don't the engine will develop a nasty knock and possibly break something important like the block...
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Lowell MA
The engine temp was normal, the engine shutting off happened at normal temp conditions under 200 degrees. The distance I travelled from when the car started to where it stalled was less than 1/2 mile.
When it stalled, it seemed as if I ran out of gas. I did not hear a knock or any uncommon noise.
When it stalled, it seemed as if I ran out of gas. I did not hear a knock or any uncommon noise.
Last edited by jrobles; Aug 5, 2005 at 09:50 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,010
Likes: 3
From: Moon Twp. PA USA
Originally Posted by 427V8
Your engine is toast.
A low oil pressure reading by it's self wouldn't stop the engine, but a lack of oil will cause low oil pressure and will cause the engine to seize.....
What happens is that the bearings loose oil and they get metal to metal contact. This heats up the bearings untill one welds itself to the crankshaft or rod. This causes the engine to stop.
When the engine cools the bearings cool off and the engine runs.
Time for a rebuild...
if you don't the engine will develop a nasty knock and possibly break something important like the block...
A low oil pressure reading by it's self wouldn't stop the engine, but a lack of oil will cause low oil pressure and will cause the engine to seize.....
What happens is that the bearings loose oil and they get metal to metal contact. This heats up the bearings untill one welds itself to the crankshaft or rod. This causes the engine to stop.
When the engine cools the bearings cool off and the engine runs.
Time for a rebuild...
if you don't the engine will develop a nasty knock and possibly break something important like the block...
Lack of oil, a quart low, would not cause the engine to seize.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
The only time that happened to me turned out to be a bad battery cable connection..what oil pressure do you get at 2000 rpm ? That is kind of a GM benchmark..If it is 40,you are most likely ok...
Last edited by rihwoods; Aug 5, 2005 at 10:18 PM.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,010
Likes: 3
From: Moon Twp. PA USA
Originally Posted by rihwoods
The only time that happened to me turned out to be a bad battery cable connection..what oil pressure do you get at 2000 rpm ? That is kind of a GM benchmark..If it is 40,you are most likely ok...
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 2
From: San diego ca
The only way such a sensor can have an effect on the engine running like that is if you have an electric fuel pump... GM especially on Fuel injected cars - connects the oil pressure sender to the fuel pump...
The idea is that if your fuel pressure gets too low the fuel pump will shut off starving the engine...the purpose to prevent you from driving around on too low an oil pressure...
I remember back in the 70's my Vega had that feature...however your 79 has a mechanical pump and therefore oil pressure cannot do that.
The idea is that if your fuel pressure gets too low the fuel pump will shut off starving the engine...the purpose to prevent you from driving around on too low an oil pressure...
I remember back in the 70's my Vega had that feature...however your 79 has a mechanical pump and therefore oil pressure cannot do that.
