13 replies to this topic

[llebyat]

1989 mini 1000

Had this mini about a year, having had a full restoration inc engine rebuilt by the previous owner.

However in recent months the oil pressure light would stay on for upto 30 secs when starting from cold, some times it would be ok and go out straight away, other times maybe even longer than 30 secs. The car has a oil gauge also and this would show 0 until the light went off the shoot up to about 50psi.

Been away for a 2 week holiday and now there is no oil pressure at all - even after 2mins no pressure. Have removed the oil pressure switch and pipe to the gauge together with the union on the block, leaving the treaded hole and turned the engine over but no oil comes out.

Have a morris minor and done the same as above and oil spurts out staight away. Could this be oil pump failure? Am new to all this stuff so learning as i go along! (by the way there is oil in the engine - hehe)

If its is the oil pump how do you change it?

Thanks David

[lrostoke]

Have you checked the relief valve.. under the domed nut near the sensor..may be sticking.

Oilpump is side of the engine, you need to remove the clutch and cover to get at it.

[llebyat]

No have not checked RV - want do you do to check it is working correctly?

Thanks

[Ethel]

It sounds like the pump is draining down so it needs priming every time it starts. I think you need a new one, but there is a cover plate on the back of the gearbox that could let air in, not too likely though.

[katana]

I'd go with the pressure relief valve being stuck, would suggest not running again until you have sorted it.
What oil do you have in? When was it last changed?

[bmcecosse]

There is obviously a serious problem with the oil pump - but to get it going now - take the pipe off that runs from the block to the filter - squirt oil in the block hole while turning the engine backwards (take plugs out!) by hand - put about 1/4 pint in there. then on with the pipe etc and crank it up (plugs still out) on the starter until you get oil pressure on the gauge. Only then - put the plugs in and start it up. What oil are you using - something thin and miserable - or good ASDA 20W50 ?? Well done with the Minor by the way!!! Are you on the MMOC forum ??

Edited by bmcecosse, 10 August 2010 - 03:55 PM.

[llebyat]

Hi

Have not checked the PRV yet but last oil/filter change about 800miles ago and its got 20/50 in.

cheers

[bmcecosse]

I suppose it could be the O ring between block and gearbox - missing or leaking - but I would expect that to give low oil pressure pretty much all the time.

[llebyat]

well i have finally had a chance to look again at this problem.

The pressure release vaule is shown in the Haynes Manual as a complete unit with a large nut, spring, and vaule on the end on the spring. It states that, it is removed in one peice.

When i removed the one on my engine just the nut and spring came out. The rest is stuck firmly in the block. Should this be the case?. How do you remove it? Could this be my oil pressure problem?

Thanks

[rawky]

Should this be the case? No, the "bullet" section of the valve is stuck in there. Which I believe would give no oil pressure as you describe yes.

I've heard of people putting a tap in the hole and drawing the bullet out as it has a hole in the back that you could tap into? Don't take my word for it tho!

Edited by rawky, 14 August 2010 - 10:00 PM.

[Sammy D]

The bullet is stuck down there, sometimes it's a ball bearing instead of a bullet which will be very difficult to get out. The tap idea sounds good, but be careful as taps are very brittle, and if you snap that down there too..

Edited by Sammy D, 15 August 2010 - 08:47 AM.

[llebyat]

Having spent hours in getting the bullet out of the block (in the end i used a M6 rawl bolt as a extractor ) i would have thought that with the PRV removed turning the engine over would spurt oil out of the PRV hole, but it does not.

Do you think that after all (even with a stuck PRV) its an oil pump failure?

Thanks

[Stevie W]

Does sound like a very worm pump and maybe mains and big end bearings if its run for any amount of time with no oil pressure.

Steve

[llebyat]

The engine was only re-built 1500 miles ago inc a new oil pump!

It has not run without oil pressure apart from turning it over, however the PRV was stuck and maybe this has been the route of the problem which has ended up knacking the pump?????

I would be correct that oil should spurt out of the PRV hole with just turning the engine over.

The other thing that may have caused the problem is the quy who re-biut the engine put syn oil in. The engine had done about 500mile before i found this out. I used oil flush and put in standard mineral 20/50 and of course changed the filter.

Could this have damaged the oil pump/PRV???

Thanks