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Post by AuroraGirlFromMars on Sept 19, 2018 20:52:07 GMT -6
Guys. just today my low oil pressure alert is coming on... is my engine dying? I have to rev my motor to stay above 5 psi and even then I can only get up to 20 some PSI while moving or revving at 6k rpm.
The oil is reading half between add and full(i hear you arent supposed to keep it at full)
The oil pressure sensor is new, for the first 1.5 years of owning the car that sensor did not work.
Its been reliably above 10 almost always until today.
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tigger
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Post by tigger on Sept 19, 2018 22:28:36 GMT -6
From experience, 'new' parts don't necessarily mean 'good' parts. How new is it and what brand is the oil pressure sender?
Are you using the recommended 5W30?
Last oil/filter change?
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Post by AuroraGirlFromMars on Sept 19, 2018 22:29:46 GMT -6
10w-30 ac Delco sender
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Post by AuroraGirlFromMars on Sept 19, 2018 22:30:44 GMT -6
And when I replaced my oil pan gasket about 2 months ago. 70% according to car. Convential
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tigger
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Post by tigger on Sept 19, 2018 22:36:47 GMT -6
What pressure are you getting on cold start up?
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tigger
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Post by tigger on Sept 19, 2018 22:38:34 GMT -6
And when cruising, say 65mph?
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Post by AuroraGirlFromMars on Sept 19, 2018 23:25:37 GMT -6
I mean if only had two cold start ups since the issues where I noticed but 25 or so cold. And then cruising like 7-8
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Paulaurora
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Post by Paulaurora on Sept 20, 2018 6:22:40 GMT -6
I would check the oil pressure sensor on my V8 with in 8 years i had to replace it 4 times . So before think the worse get another one and see what happens.
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Post by AuroraGirlFromMars on Sept 20, 2018 9:39:35 GMT -6
I just did a startup this morning. Oil still half on dipstick. Its about 55 degrees F outside, and it was 16 psi. After about a minute it went to 11. I wont have time to get it down to regular psi today, but thought to make an update. Paul, does the V8 share a same sensor as the V6?
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Paulaurora
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Post by Paulaurora on Sept 20, 2018 14:10:12 GMT -6
That i am not sure but my moms 3.5 2002 had it replaced 2x with in 6 years but my mom wasn't driving the car a lot maybe 4k a year.
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Post by quixote on Sept 20, 2018 19:05:10 GMT -6
I had this problem, on my 98... New sensor, no change. Pressure was fine, until the oil got warm, then the alarm would come when idling.
Mine didn't do this, until after running synthetic oil for a couple of weeks. I changed the sensor. I changed out the synthetic, but the problem didn't go away, until I put 2-3 quarts of 20w in. I suspect it needs a new oil pump or a seal somewhere, but I wasn't going to go for that when three quarts of heavier weight worked as a band-aid. My car was losing a quart every 2-3 months, anyway.
Since then, I've decided I have a blown head-gasket. I suspect the guys I got the car from used every form of cheap "magic snake-oil" they could, to avoid the cost of a real repair, & unload the car. It came with helpful little things, like three tires ten years old or more, and one rim bent on the inside where you had to lift the car or take the rim off, to see it.
Since coming to this conclusion, I've had my car sitting. I plan get a new engine, but I've made no arrangements, besides figuring out where I'd take the car. (Life gets in the way.)
Good luck with your car.
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tigger
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Post by tigger on Sept 20, 2018 22:55:38 GMT -6
I'd generally agree with Paul and chalk it up to a bad sender. But from what I've read, the V6 sender (btw, not the same as the V8) almost always fails pegged out. In other words, it always reads max psi, I think ~130 or so. This makes me worry you nay have a legit pressure issue.
Only way to be sure is checking the pressure with a mechanical gauge...
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Post by AuroraGirlFromMars on Sept 20, 2018 23:07:16 GMT -6
Hmm I dont think its a head gasket issue because my oil is normal(just gets dark really quick even after a change) and I do not burn coolant, at least none in any noticeable form since Ive purchased the car. If only changed the coolant once and that was early this year, so I think my head gasket is fine.
Tomorrow Im the carpooler so Ill get some good city driving in, then freeway, then back into city where I can see if my numbers improve...
Also worth noting my negative battery cable was not making a full connection with my battery.. I had to add a washer between the battery and cable to get full connection, I have not driven it since correcting that issue.
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Paulaurora
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Post by Paulaurora on Sept 21, 2018 8:50:43 GMT -6
I'd generally agree with Paul and chalk it up to a bad sender. But from what I've read, the V6 sender (btw, not the same as the V8) almost always fails pegged out. In other words, it always reads max psi, I think ~130 or so. This makes me worry you nay have a legit pressure issue. Only way to be sure is checking the pressure with a mechanical gauge... Yes its mostly set to 130 or goes btwn 5 to 0 had that on my moms 3.5.
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Post by AuroraGirlFromMars on Sept 21, 2018 9:09:10 GMT -6
See this is the thing... the sensor works and gives a good reading. Then the oil gets warmed up... and then it drops below 3. I just tested it again. Im gonna order another sensor because honestly its not a hard job and its cheap enough, but I will try another brand... Im just hoping... does anyone know if oil should be drained when this job is done?
If so Im going to switch to 5w-30 since its getting colder.
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Post by AuroraGirlFromMars on Sept 21, 2018 9:13:00 GMT -6
Okay evidently the AC delco one is the only one I could find... so I will try another. I wonder what is causing them to fail(if, for example, mine is failing)
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Paulaurora
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Post by Paulaurora on Sept 21, 2018 14:02:01 GMT -6
no oil need to be drained but you will lose just a lil oil when you remove the sensor. I think doorman makes them too at list for v8.Make sure there is no issue with the connector as well maybe it warms up and getting small short and causing bad readings.
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Post by quixote on Sept 21, 2018 15:11:24 GMT -6
Hmm I dont think its a head gasket issue because my oil is normal(just gets dark really quick even after a change) and I do not burn coolant, at least none in any noticeable form since Ive purchased the car. If only changed the coolant once and that was early this year, so I think my head gasket is fine. Tomorrow Im the carpooler so Ill get some good city driving in, then freeway, then back into city where I can see if my numbers improve... Also worth noting my negative battery cable was not making a full connection with my battery.. I had to add a washer between the battery and cable to get full connection, I have not driven it since correcting that issue. I didn't mean to suggest that any of this was related to h-gasket. The oil pressure was months ahead of any sign of burning coolant... It's just why I can't give you further information on how my car has done with the 20w, & I suppose another item in the list of issues my car came with. I should have checked back. I didn't realize that you had the v6, as well as being 2nd gen. Since I'm not familiar with the v6, I hope it's easier work ---more elbow room-- if you have to replace something like the oil pump. Beyond that, I have nothing helpful.
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Post by AuroraGirlFromMars on Sept 21, 2018 15:14:44 GMT -6
Ill definitely have to have a check on that connector.. I just wish there was room to like pull it out or up and have a deeper look at it.
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Post by AuroraGirlFromMars on Sept 23, 2018 23:46:50 GMT -6
So... I got the new sensor on and cleaned the connector. The connectors o ring wasnt installed properly last time, but the connector and sensor were unmolested. I still changed the sensor.... no good news. Still 0psi at idle when warmed up.
I am going to get a mechanical gauge and hook it up to verify these readings.
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Paulaurora
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Post by Paulaurora on Sept 24, 2018 6:25:00 GMT -6
hmmmm strange maybe connector bad somewhere.. i mean it possible to be low oil pressure but so far never saw issues like that with Aurora's . I guess anything is possible . keep us posted on findings.
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Post by AmunRoo on Sept 24, 2018 20:32:47 GMT -6
I'm having the same issue. 2001 4.0 and after the car warms up, the pressure drops low enough to sound the alarm. Changed the sensor twice already. I read somewhere that you can clear this up by overfilling the oil pan and drowning the pump. You have to run the car but not over 3,500 otherwise you aerate the oil. The other solution was that the crankshaft bolt was loose and needed to be tightened. I haven't tried either of those fixes yet. Any thoughts on the V8? Not trying to hijack the thread, but it's a similar problem.
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Post by AuroraGirlFromMars on Sept 29, 2018 16:48:43 GMT -6
It is with regret that I announce that my Oldsmobile Aurora with a 3.5l V6, is now on its deathbed. It has been confirmed and she won't live much longer. I tried the overfill method, I tried flushing the motor. Shes got no pressure and I hear a noise which sounds a lot like rod nock or something similar. Its sad....
I did try a mechanical gauge. I put 10w-40 oil in and it helps slightly keep it above zero... but just slightly.
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Post by Toronado3800 on Sept 29, 2018 19:24:29 GMT -6
Back in the day I remember REBUILDING an oil pump on a Ford 460 or something similarly arcane. Are these impossible to get to on the V6's? Seems like a repair I would hate, hours of work wondering if that was the problem.
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Paulaurora
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Post by Paulaurora on Sept 30, 2018 14:14:18 GMT -6
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Post by AuroraGirlFromMars on Sept 30, 2018 14:15:32 GMT -6
I will not give up hope on it. Because I have ungodly amounts of space she will either be used for parts or I might tinker on the motor and maybe learn how to do a rebuild on a super complex motor
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Post by AmunRoo on Sept 30, 2018 17:57:59 GMT -6
If it's the oil pump, can't you just replace it or is it difficult of a job to do?
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Post by AuroraGirlFromMars on Sept 30, 2018 18:32:01 GMT -6
Usually oil pumps dont fail. And it works when warm which tells me its probably oil thinning out.... bearings not holding pressure under thinner oil.
Anyway, my car has around 5psi manifold pressure under idle, is that normal and could that be a sign of more wear out?
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Post by AmunRoo on Oct 1, 2018 1:27:32 GMT -6
Also, how did you determine the oil pump was bad?
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Post by AuroraGirlFromMars on Oct 1, 2018 1:29:18 GMT -6
I did not determine that. Infact, I would argue its not likey to be that at all..
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