7M oil delivery issue

[whatthe?]

Ok, finally got my soarer re-engined, wired back up, everything fluid-ed to where it should be, battery charged etc. Went to kick it over and whur whur whur, not even the slightest hint of kicking over hmmmm. Off with the cam gear cover, whack her to TDC on the crank and with a screwdriver in no. 1 to make sure the crank timing mark was right, turned out that the cams were a tooth out from where they should have been.

Fixed that up, problem solved thought I. Tried to start it again, same problem. Out comes the CAS, turns out that whoever put in in last lined it up with the pin that goes through it and not the little trench in the shaft like youre sposed to, ergo it was 90 degrees wrong (and quite a few teeth out obviously). Put it back where it should be and bingo, engine roared into life all good thinks I.

My happiness lasted about 2 minutes, as the oil light came on and things started getting decidedly rattly. Killed it, checked the oil, no probs there, sump is full. At this point I have given up with the shits for today, because changing over an oil pump will take more patience than I have left after working on this thing all day.

Can anyone suggest any other things that could cause this before I change an oil pump which is going to be a big job?

[CrUZida]

Is the filter full of oil?

Remover the plugs, put a multimeter on the oil pressure switch, and to ground.
Crank the motor, if it takes only a few seconds for it to go open circuit, then I doubt you have any issues.

[whatthe?]

Well the engine starts with the oil light on now, does that tell you anything? Presumably thats the same thing as what you suggest isnt it?

[wilbo666]

Removing the p;lugs puts hardly any load on the starter, and also means that the engine isn't running with no oil pressure (if it doesn't have any!).

you could also remove the oil pressure sender and see if oil comes out?

Cheers
Wilbo

[whatthe?]

Ok, understood, will do. so what does an immediately open circuit tell me then?

[CrUZida]

It tells you you have enough pressure to turn the switch off, and it eleminates bad wiring as a possible cause of the light coming on.

Another option is to try another sensor, or even an aftermarket guage that you can borrow.

[BlackSupra]

It tells you you have enough pressure to turn the switch off, and it eleminates bad wiring as a possible cause of the light coming on.

Another option is to try another sensor, or even an aftermarket guage that you can borrow.

I've got 2 sensors here matt.

[whatthe?]

well, took off the oil filter today, it was empty. Took off the oil filter mount and cranked the engine, hoping for a big mess, no such luck. I'm beginning to think that the reason that the sump was only partially attached was that someone has borrowed the oil pump out of it, guess i'll find out soon, time to pull off the sump and see what is revealed. The TSRM reckons I'll have to drop the suspension crossmember but I'm going to have a crack at it with it still in, worst case scenario undo the exhaust and engine mounts and lift the engine a touch.
I'll let everyone know what I find! At least i can seal the sump gasket in properly now

[whatthe?]

I've got 2 sensors here matt.

Is one of those the one I lent you?

[BlackSupra]

Is one of those the one I lent you?

Correct. It's p00.

[whatthe?]

p00 as in 7M related or p00 as in shagged?

[CrUZida]

Interesting on the lack of oil pump/oil pressure.

Before you do it, fill the oil filter with oil, and try and pour some oil in where you screw the pump on.
Then remove the plugs and turn over for a while.

I had to do this on my 1UZ to get pressure.
I ended up saying fuck it and just started it, built pressure in no time then, so maybe thats not your problem.

But it can take a motor a while to build pressure when it has been dry.

[BlackSupra]

7m related.

[whatthe?]

Interesting on the lack of oil pump/oil pressure.

Before you do it, fill the oil filter with oil, and try and pour some oil in where you screw the pump on.
Then remove the plugs and turn over for a while.

I had to do this on my 1UZ to get pressure.
I ended up saying fuck it and just started it, built pressure in no time then, so maybe thats not your problem.

But it can take a motor a while to build pressure when it has been dry.

Yeah, with the dodgyness that has been displayed from the work done or not done on this engine so far I'm betting that the oil pump isnt in there, I tried your suggestion last night with a meter on the oil sensor, stayed closed. Cranked it for a while, no change. I've come to the conclusion that the sump has to come off, it's already been idling for a few minutes without building any pressure, dont want to torture an oil-less engine any further.

Shame the seller of this engine didnt migrate from the old forums, I'd have a big neg repping stick out for him!

[CrUZida]

You said in your original post the light came on after about 2 mins.

So, what happened?
If I started a new motor and the light wasn't off within 5 seconds I would have shut it down.

[whatthe?]

I didnt think it was on straight away, but then again I was hovering over the engine looking for leakage and listening for anything untoward. I'm unfamiliar with the MZ20 dash, theres several hundres red and green lights so maybe I missed it. As soon as the rattling started I did check the dash carefully and the engine was quickly killed

[ira11y]

it could also be an airlock in the oil pump, something more common on older engines than more modern ones but still a possibility. you can try pouring some oil down the "out" port of your oil filter to back fill the pump but usually what works best is to pour some oil in to the pump itself and "lock" it in there with some light grease, as the engine heats slightly the grease liquifys and helps prevent the airlock.

[TheStitt]

I know the seller of Matt's engine. It was me that found the missinbg sump bolts.

I've got lots of dollars on No oil pick up. We'll find out to today it should of got some Love

[whatthe?]

Today's the day of truth, I'll let you all know what I find (yesterday was the great day of sleep)

[whatthe?]

Well, it's official, the guy who sold me this engine is a nob. Had to half remove the engine and gearbox to get the sump off, and when I finally got the bastid off I discovered that some ^%$#wit had "borrowed" the oil pickup, at least I now know why I wasnt getting any oil pressure!
Anyway, took the pickup off my dead engine, fitted it to the one in the car, gasket goo-ed the sump up and put everything back together. Just waiting for the battery to charge and the goo to dry and I'll see what happens, but I rather suspect my problem is now fixed (at least the engine problems anyway, gearbox and diff are still a worry)