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I keep getting an air bubble in my remote oil filter that causes ZERO oil pressure to my top end. I have it mounted on the fender. Is this because it is higher than the engine? I thought that was the point in having one, so it was easier to get to. With my full length headers (this is in my nova BTW) my oil filter is about 1/4" from the header, so I thought this would be a good idea. Any suggestions? I am thinking about mounting it somewhere on the frame. Any thoughts? Thanks

iceman give me a phone call
geo. have a great day

I think I lost your phone number. Can you PM it to me?

Thanks

I don't think it much matters where the oil filter is, but you might have oil bleeding back into the engine from the filter head from the intake line and the output line. This would cause a temporary loss in engine oil pressure. But would soon regain pressure after the oil has cycled.

I guess this depends on if its a temporary start up pressure loss, or a consistent pressure loss....?

I think your best bet is to move the oil filter down a bit. If the big zero still persists then I think the next thing to check is your oil pump. Or maybe your gauge is shot?

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-1981 Chevy LUV, 283SBC, T350 Trans, White In Colour, Long Box, Never Ending Project!
-2001 F-350 Superduty XLT 7.3L Diesel Auto, Ext. Cab, Long Box, White In Colour
-1998 F-150 XL 4.2L V6 5spd , Reg. Cab, Flareside SB, Red In Colour

Well, I put the oil filter down under the car and the problem still exists. No oil pressure whatsover, ever. I pulled the oil filter off, and cranked the motor over, and oil shot out of the end of the hose. Its a brand new hi-volume pump. And, I just put a new gauge in it thinking that was the problem. This is the first time I have started the motor, I just rebuilt it. I have only ran it about a minute total, because I am afraid of damaging the engine from lack of oil. So, the pump is working, it is getting oil to the filter, just not the top end of the engine. I checked all my main bearing clearances when I built it, everything was within specs, my cam bearings where installed by the machine shop, and the oiling holes looked like they lined up. I am getting a little bit of oil to my heads, but not much. Its not squirting out of the end of the pushrods like its supposed to, just kind of leaking out of a couple of them. Could a oil passage be plugged up somewhere or something?

Do you have an electric oil pressure gauge or a line/tube type one?

If you got a electric one, maybe your sending unit is shot. If the pan had oil in it chances are the pressure would have spiked to the high side, that is if the sending unit and pump are working properly.

If you got a manual one maybe theres a blocked line to the gauge. Its is most likely manual unless you have switched it over to an electric one.

If it had no oil pressure, you would have heard some good noises coming from the engine. Lifters and rockers would have started to clatter and as the engine was run, the rods and mains would have started knocking. It's pretty noticble when its happening. But if it wasn't making noises then it probably something with the gauge..

As far as checking for bloackages in the engine, you pretty much have to tear it down to find out for sure, although it is possible.

_________________
-1981 Chevy LUV, 283SBC, T350 Trans, White In Colour, Long Box, Never Ending Project!
-2001 F-350 Superduty XLT 7.3L Diesel Auto, Ext. Cab, Long Box, White In Colour
-1998 F-150 XL 4.2L V6 5spd , Reg. Cab, Flareside SB, Red In Colour

I have a mechanical gauge. I also have the valve covers off of it, so I know that I am not getting much oil to the top end. There isn't any weird noises coming from the engine, certaintly not any knocking. I thought about pulling the fitting out of the back of the block for the gauge and spraying some air down the hole to unblock anything that might be in there. Bad idea?

if your oil pump pickup is to close to the pan it will cause low pressure. do you have a priming tool?

You say that you have the valve cover's off, does that mean you have a v8 and if you do did you prime the oil system before starting it. Just my two cents

you might try the oil filter too i just had a problem with my 400 a couple of months back. i had a fram filter on there it would build pressure for awhile after the engine warmed up it would drop to 3 pounds. after just a couple of minutes. if you reved the motor it would build to 40. a couple of days later i decided to change the oil after the initial brake in. the only thing i changed was oil and filter and the pressure changed. now it would idle at like 25 psi but if you revved the motor as soon as it hit 40 psi it slammed down to zero. so i change just the filter out of curosity to see if it would happen again. it did but for the good i bought a k&n this time it idles at 30 and jumps to 70 when reved. i`ve talked to a few others on here since then that have had the same problem with the fram. so if you are running a fram it`s simple cheap and easy to check try a different brand. good luck

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don`t have the luv no more but I still like em.72 el camino,
00 & 06 silverado one 4x4, turboed vw sandrail,99 banshee, 06 raptor 700, 02 polaris trailblazer.

have one other question were all of your oil galley plugs put back in? some people have forgotten the one on the rear main saddle. or if they are in to far it could restrict the oil especially the ones in the back of the block that would not allow enough to your lifters

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don`t have the luv no more but I still like em.72 el camino,
00 & 06 silverado one 4x4, turboed vw sandrail,99 banshee, 06 raptor 700, 02 polaris trailblazer.

If I forgot one of the oil galley plugs, wouldn't oil be leaking out onto the ground or something?

I did prime the oil system, thats how I realized I didn't have any oil to the top end of my engine. Also, I am running a K&N oil filter on it right now. I talked to a guy tonight and he had a couple suggestions. It seems I might have the lines backwards. I am going to check that tonight when I get home from work.

yes if you were missing the ones in the back of the block there would be oil on the ground but sometimes people run a tap real deep in them and screw them in as far as possible and it can restrict oil. now with the front oil galley plugs or the one by the rear main there won`t be any leaks because it is going back to the pan. there are three behind the upper timing gear. if any of those are missing they would cause some problems too.

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don`t have the luv no more but I still like em.72 el camino,
00 & 06 silverado one 4x4, turboed vw sandrail,99 banshee, 06 raptor 700, 02 polaris trailblazer.

I don't remember putting those in! Oh well, I was getting ready to pull the motor out tomorrow morning anyways and go through it. This sucks, I am supposed to drive this car next weekend to Portland because I am moving, now I have a week to pull the motor, fix it, get it back in the car and get some short trips on it to make sure the bugs are worked out before the 240 mile drive to Portland. I might end up trailering it. Well, thanks for the advice everyone, it looks as though I have to tear it back apart and see what the problem is.

if i had a way i would post a pic of the 3 behind the timing gear but i don`t maybe someone can show you where there located. you can pull the timing cover off and see where they go. good luck

_________________
don`t have the luv no more but I still like em.72 el camino,
00 & 06 silverado one 4x4, turboed vw sandrail,99 banshee, 06 raptor 700, 02 polaris trailblazer.

Been thinkin about this, are you sure you have the right head gaskets?? Just a thought. Good luck with this ice.

Thanks for the help everyone. I did forget the three behind the timing gear. what a dumbass huh? Oh well, now I have 60 psi at idle and all is well.

Thanks for all the help, you guys rock!

glad to be of help. bet you won`t forget those again

_________________
don`t have the luv no more but I still like em.72 el camino,
00 & 06 silverado one 4x4, turboed vw sandrail,99 banshee, 06 raptor 700, 02 polaris trailblazer.