suddenly no oil pressure SR20DET redtop

[R3cK]

cold started the engine and it rattled (strange rattle like the visco hitting the plastic, wasnt that knock sound) , pressure was there, rattle was gone.
drove.
pressure got down pretty bad
1bar (14psi) 3rd gear 50kmh
0.1 - 0.2 (2psi) bar on idle

didnt change anything and had perfect oil pressure before. (4-5bar driving)
it came out of nowhere

any tips or experiences for me?

setup:
sr20det redtop
oil filter relocation kit
oil cooler
greddy oil pan aluminum (so cant bend onto the strainer like the oem one)
new version oil strainer with big hole
new version oil squirters with big hole
new version chain tensioner
new oil pump 2 years before on the cleaned and resealed engine
more as enough oil. mobile 1: 5w50

[VERT_SR]

Good afternoon, I would replace the small O-rings and check for any leaks.
Upgrade to the s14 oil pickup if you can just to be safe because i had a oil pressure problem also and it helped, man good luck.

[cotbu]

Get a second gauge to verify. your readings now, suggest an oil pump replacement. i'm not gonna assume you have leaks or cavitation problem.

[jr_ss]

I second a mech gauge right off the factory oil block. If that still doesn't yield positive results, I think you should pull the pump and disassemble it. Sr pumps can crack. 5w-50 is an interesting viscosity... Why that one?

[TheRealSy90]

I believe he meant Mobil 1 15w50. Same oil I've ran in mine for 8 years.

[R3cK]

@VERT_SR
@cotbu
@jr_ss

thank you so much for your quick help!
i didnt know the oil pump could crack. will check that out after i tested a second gauge. but the cold start rattle really points a pressure problem.

Originally Posted by jr_ss

5w-50 is an interesting viscosity... Why that one?

@TheRealSy90 nope 5w :>

first of all im from bavaria in europe, we get usually around 30°-40° in summer, and 10 - 20° in spring and autum. so its not like miami beach here. (unfortunately) 10° = 50F
btw u should change your temp system. water freezes on 0° and boils on 100° isnt that a nice thing?
jokes aside

5w means very good oil flow and lubrication when you cold start the engine. and thats a must have for the turbo as well as the motor gets good lubrication as soon as possible. we all drive that oil here with perfect results.
50 on 100degrees is fine as well for most drifting or racing application with an small oil cooler. so best oil choice here imo.

cheers!

[jr_ss]

I understand the viscosity and C to F. I just don't understand why you would want an oil that flows like a 50 once warm, especially in cooler climates. I use 15w40 in Fl, year round, but we have the weather for it. I would think a 5w40 would suit you needs better. You don't want to increase flow restriction too much, which could strain the pump.

Let us know when you tear into the bottom end/ oil pump.

[VERT_SR]

did you figure it out?
update?

[R3cK]

little update.

took my engine out and put it on the motor rack.

oil pan removed. strainer is still 100% secure but then i found something.
a broken rocker guide.
oh shit.

turned the engine around and removed the head cover.

and tataaaaa. NOTHING MISSING.
so the head is still ok. everything where it should be. no guide or shim missing.
so i wonder where the broken one in my oil pan comes from.
buuut this could explain the strange rattle i heard. maybe. or maybe not.
anways. next step is to remove the oil pump.

what could probably be damaged when you find some broken guide?

cheers

[R3cK]

UPDATE

after the broken guide i had to check the head. all good tho and nothing missing.



oil strainer is also ok


took the oil pump off



have to check the bearings next..


filter looks also good to me


question: can i check the oil canals somehow? air pressure for example?

[jedi03]

the allen fittings are there for the canals if you want to remove and inspect them

[R3cK]

well well. the damn guide shot a hole into the oil canal
the oil strainer is also broken now
and the wall near the cranshaft got some scratches
crankshaft itself looks brandnew tho

[cotbu]

Honestly, looks more and more like installation error. Broken oil squirter, "the wall near the crank shaft" Im gonna say you mean thrust washer area, for sake of argument.

Sent from my LG-H631 using Tapatalk

[R3cK]

Not a native english speaker. Sorry.
Yup. Bur never touched anything. It was the guide. Look at the sillouette of the hole. Lol

[cotbu]

Please explain, how the guide made it to this area? I'll wait

[R3cK]

No idea. I have no guides missing as i said before.
Anyways problem solved i guess

[Karlhammer]

if the guide was in the pan theres no way it could of made it through the strainer, pump, filter, etc. There's something else going on.

[zylvia213]

something was dropped in when the motor got assembled????

[Kylepaschke]

lol so what the fuck happened? your engine grew an additional guide?