Sudden loss of oil pressure!

Posted By: Rosco

Sudden loss of oil pressure! - 04/18/09 11:27 PM

Is there any reason for sudden loss of oil press?Before I shut the car off I had 45psi on the gauge at 2000rpm.I shut the car off,then restarted 10 min. later and nothing on the gauge.I disconnected the gauge at the block after checking the oil and fired it up,no oil coming out of the sender port.It's a 69 383 that's never been apart that I know of,any ideas?

Posted By: Mopar1

Re: Sudden loss of oil pressure! - 04/18/09 11:35 PM

I had the same thing happen with a 400, the oil pump failed 1 mile from my home. It was back in the day, so I just drove it home regardless, changed the pump and all was well. You could try another oil filter first.

Posted By: GODSCOUNTRY340

Re: Sudden loss of oil pressure! - 04/18/09 11:38 PM

Replace the pump and while there inspect the hex drive where it goes into the pump. Sometimes these round off.

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Sudden loss of oil pressure! - 04/18/09 11:41 PM

intermediate shaft

Posted By: hemi71x

Re: Sudden loss of oil pressure! - 04/18/09 11:55 PM

Lifter popped out of it's bore, due to a bent push rod.
Pull the valve covers.

Posted By: 69four46

Re: Sudden loss of oil pressure! - 04/19/09 12:12 AM

Had the lifter thing happen to me too several times I would check that first.

Posted By: mod5v

Re: Sudden loss of oil pressure! - 04/19/09 01:33 AM

FRAM filter collapsed. Happened to me will never use another.

Posted By: dave571

Re: Sudden loss of oil pressure! - 04/19/09 02:12 AM

Quote:

Had the lifter thing happen to me too several times I would check that first.

Yup

Free to check. Better than throwing parts at it.

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Sudden loss of oil pressure! - 04/19/09 02:43 AM

!!!!!Lifter!!!!?!?!??! Are you telling me you shut the engine off NOT REALIZING that it was clanking and whanging (maybe) but missing badly on AT LEAST one cylinder????

I doubt this is a lifter. I'd check the filter/ oil pump/ drive.

Was the engine very hot?

What were you doing beforehand?

Posted By: Rosco

Re: Sudden loss of oil pressure! - 04/19/09 02:59 AM

Just driving into town,about 65mph @2400rpm.Temp was normal.The engine sounds fine,no unusual noise.

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Sudden loss of oil pressure! - 04/19/09 03:06 AM

So what did you do?

Posted By: Rosco

Re: Sudden loss of oil pressure! - 04/19/09 03:17 AM

Quote:

So what did you do?

I haven't done anything to it yet,except order a new pump&pan gasket.As good as it idled it's hard believe I bent a pushrod.

Posted By: Dodgem

Re: Sudden loss of oil pressure! - 04/19/09 12:59 PM

Well for any of us that have tossed lifters it's almost always on start up. From a bent pushrod but oil usually holds it in when under pressure. What happens is oils drains away and on start up they have a tendency to toss the lifter up and out!!
I had a cam that was terrible for bending pushrods back in the early eighties. I used to keep 3 or 4 in the trunk most often when you got gas or other start it up and 0 pressure. I'd pop the intake put lifter back in new push rod and go. later noticed the cam lobes were flaking took it back to mopar and they replaced it (I'm amazed too!!!) and never another bent pushrod.

Posted By: Supercuda

Re: Sudden loss of oil pressure! - 04/19/09 01:27 PM

Quote:

!!!!!Lifter!!!!?!?!??! Are you telling me you shut the engine off NOT REALIZING that it was clanking and whanging (maybe) but missing badly on AT LEAST one cylinder????

I had a lifter pop out once on me too. Took the kid to the doc, came out to go home, no pressure. No clanking, no whanging, no missing. Only symptom was no oil pressure.

Replaced the pump, inspected the drive, etc, till I pulled valve cover and saw the culprit.

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Sudden loss of oil pressure! - 04/19/09 01:37 PM

Rosco we're waiting on you

Posted By: dave571

Re: Sudden loss of oil pressure! - 04/20/09 01:57 PM

Quote:

Quote:

!!!!!Lifter!!!!?!?!??! Are you telling me you shut the engine off NOT REALIZING that it was clanking and whanging (maybe) but missing badly on AT LEAST one cylinder????

I had a lifter pop out once on me too. Took the kid to the doc, came out to go home, no pressure. No clanking, no whanging, no missing. Only symptom was no oil pressure.

Replaced the pump, inspected the drive, etc, till I pulled valve cover and saw the culprit.

yup.

It's a common problem, and isn't glaringly obvious as far as noise etc...

First hand experience for me here also...

Posted By: kbeeper69

Re: Sudden loss of oil pressure! - 04/21/09 01:30 AM

same thing just happened to me,changed,oil pump,pan,fillter,pick-up,found 2 lifters out,3 pushrods out,also,no noises!! so what would cause this? last year only idled the car.

Posted By: Rosco

Re: Sudden loss of oil pressure! - 04/28/09 01:55 AM

O.K.,I finally got back home to work on it.I pulled the Dist.&drive,put the primer shaft in the pump primed it and the pump works fine.I put everything back together took it for a drive,everything works fine,no noises,60psi press.all the power I had before.I'm using a supertech st8a filter,is that the problem or the oil pressure relief valve in the pump?

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Sudden loss of oil pressure! - 04/28/09 03:09 AM

Quote:

or the oil pressure relief valve in the pump?

the new pump took care of it?

Posted By: Rosco

Re: Sudden loss of oil pressure! - 04/28/09 11:44 AM

I never installed the new oil pump.I'm wondering if I should still pull the valve covers and check pushrods though?

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Sudden loss of oil pressure! - 04/28/09 11:50 AM

Quote:

took it for a drive,everything works fine,no noises,60psi press.all the power I had before.

I'm not able to figure what the problem was but you are in good shape!

Posted By: CJK440

Re: Sudden loss of oil pressure! - 04/28/09 01:39 PM

Don't know if the filter has a check valve but it could have lost prime.