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Oil light and low pressure issue

Asiangunner

Asiangunner

New member
Hi Guys,

My 83' 944 has been running great with no issues, I went out to it a couple of mornings ago and the oil warning was on and i noticed the pressure gauge was on, not sitting at zero as if car was off, it does flick on.
On starting the car up the oil warning light stays on and the pressure gauge shows no pressure. To me there sounds like there is a slightly louder sound from the engine, I believe its the tappets.

I'm too scared to drive the car, i've just started it up a few times to its the same situation every time.

There is a healthy amount of oil showing on the dip stick and the car is parked on a flat surface. There is no sign of oil loss etc under the car.

Any idea's guys?
 
Have you had the belts done recently? Could be the big crankshaft bolt working loose (not torqued properly) and so not enough friction to turn the oil pump drive.
 
Belts not done while i've have the car mate which is about 4 years.

When i bought the car it had a new water pump so i believe the belts were done then, they are due to be do if i'm honest, Are there any straight forward visual checks i can do to investigate?
 
Well first I would put my hand down inside the power steering pulley and try and turn the bolt by hand. If you can turn it by hand (or it's missing!) then that's the problem!

The way to check it properly is with a flywheel lock, a torque wrench that will go upto 210nm and (I think 25mm) deep socket.

Could also be an instrumentation fault (although usually that causes the gauge to ping up to maximum?).
 
Ok mate, mines a early model so no power steering. I've just been checking the Clarks Garage site and looks like i'll be going for a belt and tensioner change on my days off from work.

Generally how how do garages charge for a belt change? It might be worth me getting it done?
 
Cambelt & Balance belt + new rollers and new tensioners usually costs around £350 - £500 depending on were you go.

I paid £375 for the whole job about a year ago on my '86 944 Lux. Independent Porsche dealer in Kent done the job. Belts will need to be re-tensioned after approx 1500/2000 miles.

 
Unusual to have no oil pressure on a 944 - crank bolt is usually the cause from what I read on here

Oil pressure relief valve can stick open I believe (mine was intermittently sticking shut!) Might be worth a look - yours may be the early 3 piece type.
 
Thanks kev, seems a reasonable price, I just took the belt cases off and had a visual check of the belts.

The belts appear to be all correct to my untrained eye. I'll get my dad to give me a second opinion later.

I've been doing some more digging and the OPRV seems like its going to be a better bet as to whats wrong. EDH, i'm going to check this before doing the belts , I recently had a issue with the mounting bolts for my fuel rail and i had new ones tapped and mounted, There was a risk of not all the swarf being cleaned up and i know think (from reading an old post) metal swarf may have got got jammed in the valve.

I'm going to pop the oil cooler off and check the valve first.

I've never taken a oil cooler off, might be a silly question but should i drain the car of oil before taking the cooler off, i'm planning on doing an oil change anyway but not sure weather to do it before or after.
 
You don't have to take the oil cooler off I think - the OPRV should just unscrew. I have a my old OPRV here if you wanted to try that out - it stuck closed momentarily at Bedford but then worked fine all the way home.
 
ignore the last silly question, just found this guide

http://944foot2thefloor.blogspot.co.uk/2010/07/how-to-remove-and-replace-oprv-oil.html
 
Theres a revised 'later type' for series one cars thats similar, but not interchangeable with the series two part. OPRV problems and low pressure at tickover was a really common problem at one time.
 
Ah no worries mate thanks for the offer, not sure if i'm not being too naive but I'm hoping a clean up of the valve and a oil flush and change should clear the issue. I'll give it a go on Monday.
 
Problem solved guys, took the OPRV out and low and behold there was a tiny piece of metal swarf, from when i had my cam tower drilled and re-tapped, stuck in the holes at the end of the valve making it not close properly. Piece removed and valve now sliding smoothly, I fired it up and the oil lights off with pressure back to normal.

Done a oil change with a flush plus filter changed.

Phew, got lucky my OPRV was not damaged, car happily back on the road....YAY!
 
Cheers guys, I do like it when problems get solved easily and for little cost. Thats the main thing that keeps our cars on the road i suppose.

It also makes me appreciate the little delicate bits on the car and how it all works.
 
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