confirm my oil pressure diagnosis, please!

[pschaars951]

So, as many of you know, I had low oil pressure problem. I took out my suction tube which was cracked, got a new one and put it all back together. I spent a while trying to prime the pump because it was still reading .05-1.5 bar and I was thinking I wasn't getting pressure, but I noticed I was leaking oil out of the cambox cover, from the small circular black cover between the spark plugs (what is the reason for that cover, anyway?) I decided that if I am getting that much oil to the top, I could start her and see if I get pressure up when running. It says I still only get 0.5 and I do hear a slight valve pinging. But the sound is so slight that if I had the hood installed and closed, I don't think I would still be able to hear them.

I am going to start cleaning the oil sensor, but I guess my stupid questions are "is some valve noise normal? or at least acceptable?" and "If I am filling the cambox, it would make sense that I am getting a good amount of oil pressure, right?"

I also have a Mahle oil filter on order, currently using cheap ones and running 20w-50 with a whole bottle of seafoam to clean everything out. I wanted to put 500 miles on it to break in my new rotors and pads and then do an oil change. I would love to see 4 bars of pressure before I drive it though.

Thanks
-Pete

p.s. if anyone has tips or tricks to getting the steering knuckle back on the power steering sprocket, I would love to hear them. Driving me nuts!

[Techno Duck]

Tap a small chisel through pinch on the steering input shaft u-joint. Also take a wire brush to the splined shaft on the steering rack aswell as the u-joint.

Some valve noise is normal, the fuel injectors are very loud on the 944 and its possible you are just hearing the injector pulse (sounds like a ticking sound that matches the frequency of the pulsating you feel from the fuel rail).

[pschaars951]

Awesome! thanks! I feel way more reassured now. Time to go clean and check connections

-Pete

[pschaars951]

Now my car is totally messing with me. I put everything back together and started it up and there was significant noise again. I just put my head down and let it sit for a while. I came back here, read all about different engine noises, went out to test the rod bearings by pulling each spark plug wire individually, but now the noise is gone! my car sounds brand new. My only guess is that it was a lifter that was oil starved and I finally got it going right. I should have done the rod bearings when I pulled the oil pan just for the peace of mind. I also want the Lindsey racing 3-piece cross member, since I am foolish enough to probably have to remove it again shortly anyhow.

-Pete