No Oil Pressure For 5mins

[Mr_G]

Hey guys,

Had abit of a drama where I wasnt getting oil pressure which is soughted out now.

Basically what happened was an oil change, however the lines were switched around on the sandwhich plate resulting in the filter getting pressure going the wrong way, meaning no oil going back into the motor or some loss of pressure for 5mins. In other words the oil light on the dash was on.

The car idled like this for 5mins, at the same time i also moved the car around 20m up an inclined hill.

Long story short, fixed the problem, started it again and let it idle for 10mins to get the oil flowing back through the car as the oil pressure light was off.

Took the car for a drive, seemed fine, seemed to boost fine etc, and no loud abnormal noises when driving it and the PFC didnt record any abnormal knocking as the knock was around the usual 15. Once finished the drive, I popped the bonnet to see if I could hear anything abnormal and sounded like abit of a squeal which seemed to pop up twice over a 5min period for around 2sec intervals coming from the passanger side of the vehicle.

So my question now is whether the engine would have any damage on it from when it had no pressure? Hoping I didnt ruin any bearings, bent anything internally etc

Car type: S15

Mods: 2871r, PFC, injectors, oil cooler + relocator etc etc.

[wrxhoon]

You will have some bearing wear for sure as there wasn't any oil and you have metal to metal contact. How much wear/damage is anyones guess, don't forget there is oil in there but as you run it for 5 long minutes a lot of it would have gone , When you was runing the engine you should be able to hear some knock ..

The best thing to do would be to pull the sump out and check the bearings and the crank journals.

[R34GTFOUR]

It definately wouldnt of done it any good thats for sure. The only good thing is that it was only idleing so the low revs might of saved you. i had a mate that wasnt very mechanically minded and decided to do an oil change on a 180sx with a sr20det, anyway he didnt tighten up the oil filter properly and on the test drive it popped off and he probably drove it for 10mins with no oil. I came around with a new filter and oil, topped it up and it was fine and its still going strond today.

Best case senario for you is that you have slightly worn the bearings which would of just taken a couple of kms of the life of the motor, nothing to worry about it. You could of pitted the bearings, which means they are damaged but havent spun yet, but since they are pitted they will be weakened and will be easier to spin on the next big rev you give it.

Its hard to say, but if i was you i would just drive it around, it should be fine but the second you hear any big end knocks, pull over, turn the engine off and get it towed home an stick a set of big end shells in it. Its a relatively easy job, you can do it with out taking the engine out if you have access to a hoist and shouldnt take you longer than 6hrs.

Edited September 18, 2007 by R34GTFOUR

[Mr_G]

You will have some bearing wear for sure as there wasn't any oil and you have metal to metal contact. How much wear/damage is anyones guess, don't forget there is oil in there but as you run it for 5 long minutes a lot of it would have gone , When you was runing the engine you should be able to hear some knock ..

The best thing to do would be to pull the sump out and check the bearings and the crank journals.

Thanks for the reply Jerry & R34GTFOUR

So pretty much the case is that the bearings would have wear on them from what I can gather?

The engine was very healthy prior to this, turned up fine with leak down and compression test prior and has always been running on a healthy tune, so hopefully that and regular oil changes may save the bottom bearings?

[wrxhoon]

Thanks for the reply Jerry & R34GTFOUR

So pretty much the case is that the bearings would have wear on them from what I can gather?

The engine was very healthy prior to this, turned up fine with leak down and compression test prior and has always been running on a healthy tune, so hopefully that and regular oil changes may save the bottom bearings?

Nothing to do with a healthy engine or not . You wont have any damage/wear on the bore or anywhere else. The only damage you will have is on the bearings , mostly big ends but can be on mains as well . I have seen people mark the bearings on a built engine the very first time they start it , thats why you should usse mooly grease when you assemble it in the bearings . As you hit the starter the grease will protect them until the oil pressure builts up.

Hopefully there was enough oil in there so you haven't mark them to much but if I was you i would pull the sump out and check them . If you keep driving it until you hear the knock it maybe to late for the crank . Don't worry about spinning them though you will hear them knock long before they spin.

[Adriano]

Pretty sure you cant do sr20 bearings in the car without taking the box out, as they have a two piece sump, which is dowelled to the bellhousing and the block.

[Mr_G]

Just an update and thanks to everyone making an effort to post and help me out.

The whirring noise was a huge scare, however it was only the bonnet hinge which is bizzare, hehe.. So im happy that it was that rather than something in the engine. Car has been driving fine and no abnormal knocks, so maybe I got away lucky...