Oil Pressure??

[carbon_crash]

Motor: B18c1(obd-1)

Monitoring device: Autometer Oil Pressure gauge(Mechanical and about 1 yr old)

Issue: Loss in oil pressure at idle

Story: So I noticed just the other day, out of nowhere, that my oil pressure at idle had dropped. Usually it was at 20psi at idle(warm), but then it dropped to 15psi, and now its between 8-10psi at a warm idle. Upon acceleration, the pressure increases, but maxs out at 60 psi. I changed the oil 2 days ago and its still the same. Nothing really looked unusual in the oil change. I will try another gauge soon, but have a gut feeling its more. Anyone else have this kind of issue? Maybe oil pump getting weak?

[AnthonyF]

Worn out main bearings? Mine is losing pressure at idle also. What weight oil are you running? Try a little thicker and see how she does.

-Ant.

[carbon_crash]

Worn out main bearings? Mine is losing pressure at idle also. What weight oil are you running? Try a little thicker and see how she does.

-Ant.

worn out main bearings, I hope not!!:( But I am running Castrol 5w30 synthetic blend.

[SLOWR/T]

worn out main bearings, I hope not!!:( But I am running Castrol 5w30 synthetic blend.

Time to build it :)

[RWD164]

I run older cars (74' Volvo and 76' BMW) . Thicker oil will boost the pressure. I run 20W50 in the Volvo and 10W40 in the BMW. Try some thicker oil and see what happens.

[carbon_crash]

Time to build it :)

Just need the cash and alternative transportation first!:goodjob:


And I think I will try running a thicker oil soon to see what happens

[Vteckidd]

thats fine, most hondas at idle are between 8-15psi.

AS long as your peak pressure is still 60+psi an VTEC works you are fine. If you dont see any metal in the oil then i wouldnt worry about it.

How many miles on the motor?

You can cut your oil filter apart if you want, see if theres metal in there.

Rarely do Main bearings spin or have any problems, i think ive seen maybe 2 Main bearings spin in the last 7 years, both were due to improper machine work

[carbon_crash]

thats fine, most hondas at idle are between 8-15psi.

AS long as your peak pressure is still 60+psi an VTEC works you are fine. If you dont see any metal in the oil then i wouldnt worry about it.

How many miles on the motor?

You can cut your oil filter apart if you want, see if theres metal in there.

Rarely do Main bearings spin or have any problems, i think ive seen maybe 2 Main bearings spin in the last 7 years, both were due to improper machine work

Cool man, thanks for the insight. Mileage on the motor is around 70 maybe 80k. I read also the usually the pressure is 10psi per 1k, so at 6k=60psi, 8k=80psi, etc.

[Vteckidd]

Cool man, thanks for the insight. Mileage on the motor is around 70 maybe 80k. I read also the usually the pressure is 10psi per 1k, so at 6k=60psi, 8k=80psi, etc.
thats a good guideline but not always true.

Oil pressure is obviously related to RPM so as the RPMs go up, pressure should increase, but you will reach a point where it wont climb anymore. The pump can only spin so fast, only has so big of a relief springs, etc etc etc.

Usually as long as its 60psi+, your good. Ive seen H22s put out 90PSI before so there are differences.

[carbon_crash]

thats a good guideline but not always true.

Oil pressure is obviously related to RPM so as the RPMs go up, pressure should increase, but you will reach a point where it wont climb anymore. The pump can only spin so fast, only has so big of a relief springs, etc etc etc.

Usually as long as its 60psi+, your good. Ive seen H22s put out 90PSI before so there are differences.



Okay, Thanks for the help Mike

[01CDMLUDER]

good info Mr. kidd and rwd164! thicker oil should do the trick. mine did the same thing (same gauge except electrical) but i think it was because the hot weather and H22 like to burn oil especially s/c'd ones.

[carbon_crash]

so everything wasnt okay after all. The loss in oil pressure finally hit rock bottom this past weekend. While shifting from 2nd to 3rd, I felt a loss in power, then knock, knock, knock!!!!!!! Only knocked upon giving it gas, so rod knock. Havent pulled it apart yet, but the oil pump finally died!!!

[Vteckidd]

cant win them all, that sucks.

Did you drain the oil an look for metal shavings like i said?

[SiRed94]

d-zam... sorry to hear man...

[carbon_crash]

cant win them all, that sucks.

Did you drain the oil an look for metal shavings like i said?

didnt find any shavings prior to this past weekend. Didnt have the old filter to cut open to see though. But I will now have to pull the motor out and see what the damage really is.

[1SOL2NV]

hopefully u cut the car off and stopped dead in your tracks and hopefully jus need to get the crank redone and bearings .. hope it isnt a broke rod and its just a bearing that spun .

[carbon_crash]

^^ Thats what i can hoping for.

[Vteckidd]

didnt find any shavings prior to this past weekend. Didnt have the old filter to cut open to see though. But I will now have to pull the motor out and see what the damage really is.


wow, thats crazy. did the oil light blink before it started knocking? where is your oil level at?

If the oil level is full, then yeah your pump must have died or gotten some trash in it.

That sucks man

[carbon_crash]

wow, thats crazy. did the oil light blink before it started knocking? where is your oil level at?

If the oil level is full, then yeah your pump must have died or gotten some trash in it.

That sucks man

oil level was full, and yeah, the dummy light started blinking right after the knock started.