testing oil pressure 2,8L

[wannabeMJ]

I'm curently looking to buy an 86 MJ with the 2.8L

the owner is selling it cuz it sudently lost oil pressure ( actualy went down to 0)

 

I'm getting it + a chevy 350 for a big 200$

 

but it would cost me 6 to 800$ to get it towed to my place

and I want to try driving it back home

 

I know its typical for these old V6 to have oil probs

 

I'm wondering if its not just an electrical prob

or the oil pick-up

or the oil pump

or the dreaded cam bearing

 

 

I want to know what is the best and easyest way to test the oil pressure and what will I need to do so ??

[carnuck]

$600 to tow it to your place? Over 100 miles I hope! I have a 2.8 '86 longbox awaiting time to play with, because I have an '88 Chev Celebrity wagon with a crate motor in it (I'll put the EFI and all in)

 

If there is no knock, make sure it DOES NOT have an orange filter on it! It may keep on running otherwise!

[jimoshel]

The very first thing you want to do is remove the dip stick and actually check for oil in the engine. Second check and make sure the sending wire didn't come off.The best way is to remove the oil pressure sending unit and screw a oil pressure guage into the hole.Probably need an adapter. Won't tell how much but will tell if your getting oiling is to remove a rocker cover. Look for oil flow on the rocker arms, with the motor running. Let it run 10 minutes. Listen for lifter clicking. If no oil pressure the lifters will start rattling, clicking. Also sometimes just removing the oil filler cap you can see if oil is flying around in there. If after all that it's still running and no noise go for it.If your not pushing it usually the lifters will start clicking giving ya time to shut it down B4 something breaks.

[Pete M]

rent a dolly and borrow a truck. :thumbsup:

[wannabeMJ]

The very first thing you want to do is remove the dip stick and actually check for oil in the engine. Second check and make sure the sending wire didn't come off.The best way is to remove the oil pressure sending unit and screw a oil pressure guage into the hole.Probably need an adapter. Won't tell how much but will tell if your getting oiling is to remove a rocker cover. Look for oil flow on the rocker arms, with the motor running. Let it run 10 minutes. Listen for lifter clicking. If no oil pressure the lifters will start rattling, clicking. Also sometimes just removing the oil filler cap you can see if oil is flying around in there. If after all that it's still running and no noise go for it.If your not pushing it usually the lifters will start clicking giving ya time to shut it down B4 something breaks.

 

 

 

ty thats what i wanted to know

 

I already knew about the fram oil filter

 

 

2nd Q: where is the sending unit on the old V6 and what king of adapter will i need ?

 

can i rent a pressure gauge from canadian tire ?

[jimoshel]

The OP sending unit is below and to the right of the oil filter, about 2 ins. Instead of renting I would just buy a oil guage. Get the after market kit and it will have lines, adapters to fit.I've seen cheapies for $5. A real cheap way to test is to remove the sending unit. start the motor. If oil shoots out all over the place you've got oil pressure. That won't tell ya if you've got a blocked line or filter. But then neither wud a guage. Again, remove the filler cap. with the motor running look into the hole. You can see if oil is collecting on top of the head.If you look B4 you start the engine the area immediatly below the opening will be dry. How dry depends on how long since it was last run. Now start the engine and look again. A puddle will form directly below the hole, not a lot but enough to tell ya got flow. Unless something broke, or a piece of crud got into the oil line, or it was run without oil, engines don't just suddenly lose OP. Unless your a 'rubber wristed contortionist' your gonna have to come from underneath. Just can't get to it from the top.

And by the way. Make sure ya screw the sending unit, or something, back in the hole B4 ya go driving it.