So this morning started out well. I went out and got in the car to leave. Started up like normal and let it idle for about 5 minutes before pulling off. After that I took off down the road. I got to the end of the street and when I came to a stop the motor shut off. Like it stalled out. I went to turn the motor over and nothing. The starter acted like it didn't even want to turn the motor and stopped. The voltage on the battery was a bit low. I then went home and got my dads truck to help see if it could be jump started. No luck. It did raise the voltage back to normal but the started just did a blip and stopped. So I then pushed it home. Went to autozone and had them check the battery. They said it was dropping charge and I got a new one. Came home and put in the new battery. Still the same thing. Starter didnt want to do much of anything. I did bump the key a few times to keep the starter going and it finally cranked. It ran good and didnt cut off. I removed the battery terminal to see if maybe the alternator was bad. The car still ran. I then got back in the car and checked the oil pressure. It was 19. Where it would usually be 43. I revved it up some and the pressure jumped up to 61. then back down to 40. I shut the car off to see if it would start. It started right up like a charm. The oil pressure this time stayed at 19. Then dropped straight down to 0 and the warning light came on so I cut the engine off right away.

What could be the problem here? When I went to go pop the hood the first time this morning after it stalled the dipstick was out a couple inches and oil was blown out the side in the engine by. Just a little spray, nothing big.

 

That's a sign of excessive crankcase pressure. Look to see if any of the PCV hoses are kinked or plugged.

As far as the oil pressure gauge ... hard to tell. Could be a bad sensor or a bad wire connection going on.

 

How would I check to know for sure whether it is the sensor or pump?

 

Normally when you first turn on the key without starting the engine, the oil pressure gauge will sweep from 0 to 80 then back down. If its doing that then the sensor might be working...still it could have issues too though. Now at any time, was your engine clattering? If not, you probably still have pressure but now an indication issue. As suggested already, sounds too like you got excessive crankcase pressure therefore you need to check out the pcv valve/tube to the intake first.

 

No engine clatter. The gauge does sweep to 80 and back down to 0 when turned on. I will go ahead and buy a new oil sensor since they are only 20 bucks. And see what that does. I would dread doing a oil pump install.

 

Get a brass one.

 

Had you run it hard recently? The dipstick popping out doesn't sound like a coincidence.
Ron

 

Yes, last night....

 

PM Sent

Ron

 

I don't see a pm in my inbox.

 

Should be there now.

Back in an hour or so.

 

Ok, I just got it. Thanks. I replied back to you.

 

 

I changed out the oil pressure sender a little while ago. I managed to do so without removing the intake. I then started the car and there is still no oil pressure. Also the motor is very noisy.

What is a good oil pump to buy?

Also, anyone know of any good how-to's?

 

If its noisy, then indeed you lost pressure. The question is why? It is a problem for a bypass valve to stick in the oil pump and you could have lost a bearing. Since you have to open things up a lot, I would suggest pulling the oil filter and cutting it open to see if there is any metal debris inside. Oil pump is under the timing chain in the front of the engine. www.gmpartshouse.com you can get a new one, but know its a lot more involved than you think. You'll need to get the steering rack out of the way, pull the harmonic balancer, timing cover, gears and chain...all to get to the pump. I should add too, radiator/fans have to come out and the condensor carefully pushed forward

 

Jeez. This does sound like a lot of work. I already planned on my car being down for a while now because of this. Actually contemplating having it towed to a local shop here that works on vettes. Any idea of hours involved to tackle this? But I still wonder why the motor died when I put in the clutch to let it idle coming up to a stop. And then the motor didnt want to turn over like it was jammed up. But after bumping the starter many times it finally turned over. Oil pressure was fine then it went to crap real fast. I wish I would have keep an eye on my gauges just as this was happening to see if the pressure had dropped off when the engine stalled.

Is it better to get a high performance oil pump or the stocker?

And while I am at it. Should I go ahead and change the water pump?

 

You really need to know why this happened before deciding on changes and the actual repair. Did you hear any deep knocking? I strongly suggest you pull the oil filter and somehow cut it open looking for embedded metal particles.

 

Ok, so oil pumps don't just fail out of nowhere? No deep knocking at all. I have had a car that I spun a bearing in before and the sound is very distinct. Nothing like that here.

What will I be looking for in the oil filter? I may and try to do that tomorrow.

 

You will be looking for metal particles other than any that might be from cutting it open by whatever means you use to do that.

Engine noise will as in clattering will either be lifters tapping very loudly, deep knocking from no oil pressure and other bearings sounding dry. You could have it towed to a dealer who can do a mechanical oil pressure test for you. You may have a piece of debris blocking the check valve in the oil pump but it still means getting it all apart. You need some technical engine experiance along with various pullers...

 

Results are in. This is what I did not want to see. I drove the car from my driveway into the garage and it had a tapping sound. Similar to a spun bearing. I guess it is one...

The oil is a metallic color and you can see some shavings floating around at the top.


This is what I saw as soon as I removed the filter.








Time for a new engine.