'84 Oil Pressure
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 179
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From: Missouri
'84 Oil Pressure
I just had the oil pan resealed on my '84 and the oil pressure is now lower than it used to be. The shop said I'll need to add another half quart of oil because the 5 quarts I had wasn't enough but that shouldn't cause my oil pressure to be so low since the car used to leak it like crazy. Driving normally it hangs around the mid 40's with 5w-30 oil and 18 at idle. The problem is when I accelerate or turn hard, especially to the left, it drops. At one point I turned left from a stop sign and it dropped to zero. I had 10w-30 in the car before and it would idle at 20-25 psi and about 50 when I was just cruising down the highway. Obviously the the 5w-30 will have a bit lower pressure than 10w-30 because it's thinner and I just went with it because the car will probably sit a lot until I'm home for Thanksgiving and Christmas break but the weight of the oil shouldn't drop my pressure that much. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
Last edited by James C4; Jul 30, 2019 at 04:48 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2014
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From: New Port Richey FL
You say the pan has been off Recently and now pressure is lower now. Did you put another Pan on, or was it a Pull and seal up. Because it sounds like your pickup is not in the bottom of pan, especially when you say you 0 out on turns.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2017
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From: Missouri
@s carter they took the old pan off and put it back on. I'm thinking it could be the pickup but I've never had the oil pan off so I don't really know what's going on down there. I called them and they said to drive it after adding that other half court and if it's still messing up to bring it back.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2014
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From: New Port Richey FL
ok so we have the original pan so the pressure should not really change. When reinstalling pan it can be a challenge to get the Pickup inside the Wind age tray and the pickup can be easily knocked up in frustration. So I would get the car up in the air drain the oil and use a wire Camera and view the pickup make sure its toward the bottom.or put a Mechanical Pressure gauge to get a Direct Reading.
Last edited by s carter; Jul 30, 2019 at 07:05 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2017
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From: Missouri
@s carter I went to add the extra half quart of oil and realized my dipstick wouldn't go in all the way. It sounds and feels like it's hitting something. I'm guessing that could be the oil pick up you mentioned being loose in the bottom of the oil pan. The car is going back to the shop tomorrow so hopefully they'll get it right this time.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 179
Likes: 12
From: Missouri
@s carter it only got dangerously low if I really pushed it through a corner or accelerated hard. Other than that it was at least holding 35 so I should be fine if I just drive slow unless 35 is unacceptable.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Mission Viejo CA
The oil pick-up tube presses into the oil pump, so it sounds like they knocked the oil pick-up tube out of place when they replaced the pan. Get a picture of the inside of that pan while they've got it apart. I was surprised how complex the baffles are when I had my '84 apart, but I didn't get any pictures. Those baffles may have baffled the mechanic! Doing this work with the engine in the car would be a challenge!
A question for the experts (which I'm not): Is the '84 oil pan a one-year only part?
A question for the experts (which I'm not): Is the '84 oil pan a one-year only part?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2012
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From: USA
When I built an engine for my 84 using the original block, I had to find a different oil pan due to damage on the bottom of the original pan. The 84 and 85 had the same oil pans with the dipstick on the passenger side. It was hard to find one that was not mashed up on the bottom. In 1986 GM went to the one piece rear main seal and of course the pans were different. Part number for the 84-85 pan is 14082350.
Last edited by zachaeous; Jul 31, 2019 at 02:30 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 6,941
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From: New Jersey
The oil pick-up tube presses into the oil pump, so it sounds like they knocked the oil pick-up tube out of place when they replaced the pan. Get a picture of the inside of that pan while they've got it apart. I was surprised how complex the baffles are when I had my '84 apart, but I didn't get any pictures. Those baffles may have baffled the mechanic! Doing this work with the engine in the car would be a challenge!
A question for the experts (which I'm not): Is the '84 oil pan a one-year only part?
A question for the experts (which I'm not): Is the '84 oil pan a one-year only part?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 179
Likes: 12
From: Missouri
The mechanic said the sump, which I'm guessing is the pick up, at the bottom of the pan had been knocked up when they installed it. They reinstalled it correctly and my oil pressure is back up to exactly what it should be. Hopefully the engine wasn't damaged.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
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From: New Jersey
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,894
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From: New Port Richey FL
Well done, I'm glad it has been fixed before any Known problems. as 84 4+3 said run it and check. Do to the fact of you where on top of the Problem you should be ok and the check filter in a 100 miles or so is more of a Put Mind at Ease.
Last edited by s carter; Aug 1, 2019 at 11:07 AM.