I'm trying to get my '84 back on the road. Its been sitting for a couple of years.

She starts right up but I don't have any oil pressure. Based on the sound of the lifters, the gauge is probably accurate. I'm too afraid to just let her run until the pressure shows up.

Is there anything I can easily do? I was thinking of maybe overfilling the oil.

Thanks,

 

How old is your oil and filter?

I'd drain and refill and install new filter, then see what happens. You could also read out your pressure sending unit.

 

How long did you start it for before you shut it off? An oil change and new filter would be a good idea. After this is done, remove the fuel pump fuse and/or L-Jetronic relay and crank the car until you see the oil pressure gauge bounce. Do about 6-8 seconds worth of cranks in 10 second intervals. This is what I did after rebuilding an engine for my old 944. No oil in the heads but just assembly lube and this procedure put enough oil up there not to damage or overstress any components.

 

Be sure and fill up your new filter with oil before you spin it on.

 

mongo, I love your avitar! classic!!

 

+1 what everyone else said. If you want to be extra, extra careful, pull the timing belt and spin the oil pump with a drill. My 90 degree cordless drll was able to hold 1 bar on the gauge.

 

Somehow I forgot about the timing belt.

I think that should be changed too even if it's not an interference engine.

 

Thanks, it's printed on my new t-shirt purchase arriving Monday.

 

I think John knows about belts. It just needs a little help in priming. I would hate to have to go to the trouble of removing the belt if I could get it primed with the fuel relay trick.

 

You can also remove the sender and the adapter that sits between it and the engine, clean it out and see what happens. Oil has a tendency to go in but not come out, and the result isn't quite a sludge mess, but rather a lot of funky old oil that doesn't flow too easily.

 

Since the default (failure) mode for the oil pressure sender is pegged at 5 bar....NOT ZERO...are you getting a low oil pressure warning blinking red light? You should be....

Since I have owned two 84 engines and blown up one...here is my advice:

DRAIN THE OIL....check the magnetic plug for debris & cut the filter open looking for metal?

If the above check comes back clear.....as mentioned above I would replace the filter-oil..drop the timing belt and spin the oil pump with a drill with a REAL oil pressure gauge (like WSM recommends)....if the pump appears to have pressure then you can put the TB back on and check pressure with everything moving......

I can tell you with 100% accuracy the one thing you don't want is this

http://www.youtube.com/user/icemang1...12/Wm1BlKelA3M

 

Even better, pull the plugs and crank the engine until the pressure comes up. Easier on the battery and starter and less wear and tear, overall.

ww

 

This is a good idea.

 

If you decide to do this, take a moment to pull the connectors from the injection and ignition controllers so the ignition unit will survive with no plugs attached, and the intake won't get sprayed with raw fuel. It takes just a minute to removee and reconnect. Other option is to pull the ignition and fuel pump relays or fuses.

 

Any update John? Were you able to get the oil pressure to register?