New Car, Low Oil Pressure, Advice Please

gottadiesel · 02-05-2009, 05:07 PM

Just picked up this 88 supra turbo, it is kinda of a started project that I intend to continue. It runs and drives excellent, but the one issue that concerns me is the oil pressure. There is no knocking or rattling, valves do not even tick... but when cold I am running about 18-20 idle, 30-35 3k, but when warm it is down to 8-10 idle and 20 @ 3k. My first step is to change oil and filter. Oil pan does leak, so perhaps if oil change does not affect, change pump when I pull pan? I assume pump is accessible at that point?

Only other odd thing, as that it would appear that a little oil tries to seep from dip stick, not much but a little, yet I do not get any blow by when running from there.

Is it possible reading is inaccurate?

Any thoughts would be appreciate, new to being a Supra owner, but not new to Japanese cars and/or Toyota.

Thanks Charles

CyFi6 · 02-05-2009, 09:18 PM

Your post is confusing, but if you are using the stock gauge get a good known mechanical oil pressure gauge to check the oil pressure, the stock one gets inaccurate over the years

gottadiesel · 02-06-2009, 01:31 AM

You are right it is...didn't get much sleep last night and I started to ramble... Ok I will check with a new oil gauge before I get too worried.

The oil leak was just a side comments as it related to maybe needing to change the oil pump if pressure is actually low.

Thanks for the advice, I will at least hook it up locally to double check and then run and mount permanently later.

Any recommendations as to the best oil to use, if I am not aware of previous oil that has been used. Another thread suggested staying away from mobile1 if it had not been used before, not sure of all the issues. I figured I would be safe with a semi-synthetic.

Thanks

supraduper · 02-06-2009, 02:34 AM

i just recently had a supra that showed those same symptoms....

but i had a rod knock

i pulled the oil pan to replace the rod bearings... and decided i'd be stupid not to do the main bearings..

anyway.... i pulled the bearings to find severe wear... which will cause low oil pressure.....

anyway... 3 days now after the half rebuild... awesome oil pressure, awesome running engine... well worth the 2 days of work (with lift)

gottadiesel · 02-06-2009, 08:23 AM

supraduper - thanks, I think, since I just bought, I am hoping I do not need to go that that extent at this point. But I do have a question, it would appear that I may need to lift motor to pull pan, is that correct? Or is there a better way, I am in the process of looking for full tech manuals, but I just bought, so still trying to get up to speed on the vehicle, will be going through it this weekend...head to toe, so to speak.

I literally just bought it last night, but that was an immediate concern that I had.

Thanks for the info.

CyFi6 · 02-06-2009, 08:28 AM

If you are going to pull the pan you may as well pull the motor out first. Its a pita to get the pan off from under the car, and then you have to work under the car as well which is no fun. The pump is likely NOT the problem of your low oil pressure (if you even do have low oil pressure). Pumps make flow, not pressure. Restriction to flow is where the pressure is made or lost (bearings, and other oil pressurized clearances). Verify your pressure before taking any drastic measures. And remember, idle oil pressure spec is only 4.3 psi so anything above that is good.

gottadiesel · 02-06-2009, 08:44 AM

Agreed, I am pulling the pan, mainly because it is leaking pretty good, at least I think that is where it is coming from, will be cleaning up this weekend and watching for oil origin, could be front main seal perhaps???

Good to know, idle is ok, but it would appear that @ 3k I should be between 36 and 71 and when at operation temp, I do no see over 25, but like you said, still do not know if that is accurate. Otherwise it has no obvious indication of having low oil pressure, so hopefully it is just a faulty indicator.

If it is still low, I assume no way of telling what is causing it without pulling pan and checking bearings, correct?

Anyway, thanks for your assistance.

02-05-2009, 05:07 PM	#1
gottadiesel Stock Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SW Washington Posts: 24	New Car, Low Oil Pressure, Advice Please Just picked up this 88 supra turbo, it is kinda of a started project that I intend to continue. It runs and drives excellent, but the one issue that concerns me is the oil pressure. There is no knocking or rattling, valves do not even tick... but when cold I am running about 18-20 idle, 30-35 3k, but when warm it is down to 8-10 idle and 20 @ 3k. My first step is to change oil and filter. Oil pan does leak, so perhaps if oil change does not affect, change pump when I pull pan? I assume pump is accessible at that point? Only other odd thing, as that it would appear that a little oil tries to seep from dip stick, not much but a little, yet I do not get any blow by when running from there. Is it possible reading is inaccurate? Any thoughts would be appreciate, new to being a Supra owner, but not new to Japanese cars and/or Toyota. Thanks Charles

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02-05-2009, 09:18 PM	#2
CyFi6 3" Exhaust Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: SLO Posts: 234	Your post is confusing, but if you are using the stock gauge get a good known mechanical oil pressure gauge to check the oil pressure, the stock one gets inaccurate over the years

02-06-2009, 01:31 AM	#3
gottadiesel Stock Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SW Washington Posts: 24	You are right it is...didn't get much sleep last night and I started to ramble... Ok I will check with a new oil gauge before I get too worried. The oil leak was just a side comments as it related to maybe needing to change the oil pump if pressure is actually low. Thanks for the advice, I will at least hook it up locally to double check and then run and mount permanently later. Any recommendations as to the best oil to use, if I am not aware of previous oil that has been used. Another thread suggested staying away from mobile1 if it had not been used before, not sure of all the issues. I figured I would be safe with a semi-synthetic. Thanks

02-06-2009, 02:34 AM	#4
supraduper Stock Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: nh Posts: 14	i just recently had a supra that showed those same symptoms.... but i had a rod knock i pulled the oil pan to replace the rod bearings... and decided i'd be stupid not to do the main bearings.. anyway.... i pulled the bearings to find severe wear... which will cause low oil pressure..... anyway... 3 days now after the half rebuild... awesome oil pressure, awesome running engine... well worth the 2 days of work (with lift)

02-06-2009, 08:23 AM	#5
gottadiesel Stock Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SW Washington Posts: 24	supraduper - thanks, I think, since I just bought, I am hoping I do not need to go that that extent at this point. But I do have a question, it would appear that I may need to lift motor to pull pan, is that correct? Or is there a better way, I am in the process of looking for full tech manuals, but I just bought, so still trying to get up to speed on the vehicle, will be going through it this weekend...head to toe, so to speak. I literally just bought it last night, but that was an immediate concern that I had. Thanks for the info.

02-06-2009, 08:28 AM	#6
CyFi6 3" Exhaust Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: SLO Posts: 234	If you are going to pull the pan you may as well pull the motor out first. Its a pita to get the pan off from under the car, and then you have to work under the car as well which is no fun. The pump is likely NOT the problem of your low oil pressure (if you even do have low oil pressure). Pumps make flow, not pressure. Restriction to flow is where the pressure is made or lost (bearings, and other oil pressurized clearances). Verify your pressure before taking any drastic measures. And remember, idle oil pressure spec is only 4.3 psi so anything above that is good.

02-06-2009, 08:44 AM	#7
gottadiesel Stock Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SW Washington Posts: 24	Agreed, I am pulling the pan, mainly because it is leaking pretty good, at least I think that is where it is coming from, will be cleaning up this weekend and watching for oil origin, could be front main seal perhaps??? Good to know, idle is ok, but it would appear that @ 3k I should be between 36 and 71 and when at operation temp, I do no see over 25, but like you said, still do not know if that is accurate. Otherwise it has no obvious indication of having low oil pressure, so hopefully it is just a faulty indicator. If it is still low, I assume no way of telling what is causing it without pulling pan and checking bearings, correct? Anyway, thanks for your assistance.