R32 Gts Engine Cutoff On Low Revs And Low Oil Pressure

[Rust123]

Hey guys. I don't know if this is a similar problem. I bought a R32 GTS a couple of weeks ago. I didn't get to drive it much because I went on holiday a couple of days after i bought it.

THe problem I'm having is that the car sometimes cuts off when I break to slow down (for lights or when i pull into my drive way). When I first bought the car, there was no oil in it and I had the same problem then. So I put in 10W-40 oil in it. Right now it says its in between the high and low level in the gauge thing. When I drive, the stock oil gauge fluctuates around 4 kg/cm^3. Just before the engine cuts, it goes down to about 1 then cuts off. The car has 170 ks milage on it.

Can someone please advice.

Thanks.

Rusty

[GTSBoy]

It's hard to imagine what could cause the relationship between oil pressure and the engine stopping.  At least, it's hard to imagine that low oil pressure is causing the engine to die.  4 bar is normal oil pressure when driving.  Fluctuation is not normal.  Dropping to 1 bar is definitely not normal.  But even at 1 bar oil pressure I would expect the hydraulic lifters to have enough juice in them to not collapse (as a possible cause of the engine stopping, even if it is possible).....and I can't think of any other reason why low oil pressure would stop an RB20.

As to the cause of the low oil pressure...  You'd have to ponder whether there was a mechanical breakage inside the oil pump.  Something that keeps everything turning but occasionally comes apart.  That's hard to imagine.  More likely is something like a crack or missing bolt or something on the oil pump's pickup.  That's a common enough occurrence on pretty much any engine with a questionable maintenance history.  Or perhaps there's a serious blockage over the pickup's mesh screen.  A rag or bit of plastic bag or tape or something that got in there somehow.  Maybe it blocks off most of the mesh and every now and then it moves and blocks all (or just more) of it.  Or you could have a fault with the oil pump's overpressure relief valve, or the same valve in the oil filter (if there is one).

Anyway, it's only an NA RB20 skyline, so you're probably better off taking it out the back of an industrial estate and torching it for the insurance money.

Edited January 1, 2012 by GTSBoy

[Rust123]

Its actually a RB25 engine. The fluctuation is not major like all the time. Like when i look sometimes its just above 4 and sometimes its just under 4. It only cut out that once when it dropped. My mate said there might be a blockage and to drain all the oil out and replace it, see if that fixes it.

[bubba]

Stock gauges are notoriously unreliable, if you're worried then get a half decent oil pressure gauge and see what is actually going on.

Did the pressure drop and THEN the engine die? Or did it want to stall and THEN you noticed the oil pressure was low (did the light come on?)?

[BOOZTJUNKEY]

Has it got an aftermarket bov? Does it vent to atmosphere

[bubba]

Has it got an aftermarket bov? Does it vent to atmosphere

Non-turbo I think but I was leaning towards a vacuum leak..

[BOOZTJUNKEY]

Non-turbo I think but I was leaning towards a vacuum leak..

Hmmmmm interesting well yeah I would lean towards vacuum leak still...

I don't see how oil pressure would stall the car and if something was blocking the pickup I don't think it would be as forgiving as it has been ... I would get an aftermarket gauge ( a good quality one ) and see what is going on with the pressure

And make sure fuel pump is working properly

[talky]

Check to make sure ur idle control is connected properly?