What to do if oil is not moving?

qawse · 06:49 PM

Finally got my 944 running after ten years, but a new problem arose. The oil is not making it to the top end (cam and valves), and I heard it loud and clear. When I went to change the oil I had to physically start the process with a screwdriver. I was thinking about removing the valve cover and manually applying oil, then starting the car to warm the oil to ease the draining process. My friend suggested to blow-torch the oil pan-seemed crazy. I know removing the engine then the oil pan would be the best way to solve this problem, but that option is not ideal; I like to try something else first. Does anyone have any suggestion?

Jer944 · 03-14-2006, 07:09 PM

did you start the engine with oil that has sat for an extented period of time? and what was wrong with the car before hand?

qawse · 03-14-2006, 07:13 PM

I did start the car with the old oil, did not realize it was so bad. The car needed a new clucth, at the time the engine was in perfect running order.

ae1969 · 03-14-2006, 08:24 PM

10 year old oil.........

Yikes.....

Well all you would need to do is prime the oil pump.........BUT I am not gonna tell you how to do it..........until you figure out what else needs to be done before you try and turn this car over again.

Hint:
1. Belts
2. Read what needs to be done before turning over an engine that has been sitting for that long.

AA_Ezra · 03-14-2006, 10:05 PM

If, that thing has sat for 10 years. it need's a serious tune up or else it's going to Disentegrate on you. You need to replace the Timing and balance shaft belts ASAP! you're belts going to go for sure and you're going to bend lifters and have to have the head redone. And replace all the front engine seals too And oil filter b/c im sure that cloged. and while you're at it check the water pump.
I dont know what to do about that old oil cloging. But i'de worrie about that after I change the belts.

VINMAN · 03-15-2006, 03:28 AM

Ten yr old oil!!

Honestly, I wouldnt even attempt to try to start it. that old oil has probably hardened and gunmmed up in the oil galleries. You will destroy the bearings trying to turn it over. I'd pull the engine out and tear it down.

Razorback1980 · Razorback1980's Garage

Now that it's been started, I have no idea exactly what to do. I don't think you have to pull the engine to get the oil pan off, so I guess you could try to pull the oil pan and clean everything and put it back on. I think I would try to use an external pump and an oil flush product to clean the oil system before putting the pan back on. If you circulated the flush with an external pump and the oil pan off, you could also watch the top side and see if the flush is getting up there. Here is the real problem though. The seals in that motor are so old, they are going to leak within a month. Oil will then pour out the back of the motor and probably the front too and will run directly on the exhaust headers...this may very well catch your car on fire. This did actually happen to a friend of mine. If it's set for ten years, the rings may also be stuck and so the best thing is to pull the motor and tear it apart, clean everything and put it back together. That's the only way this car is going to be reliable again after setting that long. Definitely do not start the car again before changing the timing and balance shaft belts and fixing the oil problem. You probably already put excessive wear on the bearings.

Good Luck

Jer944 · 03-15-2006, 05:38 AM

eh sounds like a complete rebuild is needed, starting the motor and allowing it to run with no oil being pumped is isnt wear on anything touching metal to metal... i am suprised it turned over after 10 years with oil being so hard

Jer944 · 03-15-2006, 05:43 AM

seeing as how i cant type or spell "isnt" should be "instant"

qawse · 03-15-2006, 08:41 AM

I have changed the timing and balance belts.
Can the oil pan be taken off without emoving the engine?
thanks

ae1969 · 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by qawse
I have changed the timing and balance belts.
Can the oil pan be taken off without emoving the engine?
thanks

Thank goodness for that..........

You need to suspend the engine and drop the crossmember to swap out the oil pan gasket......

Can you take pics of the syrup when you drain it......

After you have checked everything over............

- You will need to prime the oil pump. Remove the oil filter......pour some oil down it........... and turn the engine backwards a couple of times.
- PUll the DME relay. Crank it until you can see oil pressure on the guage.
A quart of ATF with the next oil change would be a good thing as well..........

P.S This thing is going to start springing a number of oil leaks. Watch that water pump as well it will probably go......

Zero10 · 03-15-2006, 10:50 AM

You could probably drain what you can through the drain plug. Add all but 1L of new oil, and 1L of ATF.
Fire it up, and let that circulate for a short time, then drain it and replace with fresh oil.
Might get away with that and not dropping the oil pan.