Oil pressure DROP in hot motor (Page 1 of 3)

No, I'm saying that after winding through the gears (reasonably hard) one time oil pressure drops to near zero AT ANY RPM!!. I haven't tried revving it really high at that point for obvious reasons.
It happens FAST.  It's on a trike so between shifting gears, working the throddle and hanging on for dear life, I dont see exactly when it drops but I look down and while the engine rpms are still up the pressure is ZERO! At that point I sut the motor off and coast to a stop.

Oil is 10/30 Castrol.
I know it's kinda thin but I knew the first running would be at cool temps (had a heat wave of 70 degrees yesterday and today)

Hey see ya got her built ! But what did you say you did with the oil pump ?
  I take it it's a spin on filter Pump <<< I generally wont use one and how close to the exhaust is the Filter ???
  As to Oil pump's I prefer the Shadick Aluminum But Ive also used Metal Case Melling oil pump also ! Think It's a Melling !
  But oil pump's a Big Deal ! Did you check the oil sump tube ! when you built her ?
  Gauge workin but you said you went mechanical as in screwed a mechanical hydraulic style oil gauge right intoo the case ?
  Is it Hot ! Feel the dip stick and how many mile's does it have on it ?
  Oil light will flicker on a Bugg if the idle is low and the motor is missing ?? You should read what Gene Berge had to Say about Gauge's !! Usual w's and Gene Berge Enterprise's with a dot and com etc.
  But dont think that the gauge's are wrong just cause Gene say's there Blanked up and Inaccurate if a Gauge indicate's there's a problem ?? Be Honest about it !! Ah I think it will be all right << Dont get it ??
  Should be able to hear Valve's rattling etc oil pressure drop and 10/30 Castrol is fine ? But I hope you didnt buy a case !
  Valvoline !!! ?? Nope Valvoline !! ??? Told ya nothin but Valvoline In a V.w .
  Castrol is fine Next time tho Valvoline !
  Explain Oil Pump and oil filter !
                                       Sean

Did you remember to install the air deflector tin under the pistons? And other  cooling tin?
The stock VW  oil pressure switch was designed to come one at ~6-7 pounds at an idle. The VW engine carries no where near the oil pressure as other cars.
I'd change the oil then disable the ignition and crank the engine over with the fitting out of the switch hole and see if you get any oil pressure that way then go from there.
Invest in an long neck candy therm or an infra red temp gun so at least you can get somewhat of an idea of temp(some will argue about this method but it works for me)
And yes the pump is a tight fit into the case. Loosen up the surrounding bolts to relief tension but you will prolly need a pump puller.

                                                                                 burrhead

Last edited by burrhead (2009-03-09 04:36:40)

Burrhead:
I definatly installed the deflector and super cool tins.
The idiot light didnt worry me as much as the zero pressure at mid range rpm, on mechanical guage.
I'll check into the  infared gun, might be good for seein if the wifes in the mood too!!

Sean;
The oil pumps aluminum.
Keep in mind the gasket I fabricated is a little less that one thousandth of an inch thicker than the stock one (before any compression that might occur)
Does Shadeck make a one peice pump-filter unit?
We've had the one peice vrs remote filter before and I know where u stand but humor me.
Thanks!!

PS, another question:
Went to adjust the valves on my wife's trike (Pretty stock 1600) and saw that #4 had a loose head nut. Yup, pulled out of the case (no inserts). I've never used the self tapping studs but I'm gonna.  Any tips?
Thanks again!

Last edited by billainsly (2009-03-09 15:53:38)

Arghhh The gasket matter's be the first place I would look ! The Pump cover plate gasket is tissue thin + it's compressed !
  As to Shadeck usina spin on Im not Sure But Tom use's the OEM from Mexican motor's !! If you just gotta have the filter ?? Be the way to go !
  Me Ive alway's tapped the case for full flow , then the remote filter and oil cooler ! If you read to much intoo the Spin on ?? As Ive read some where that Ford did a study and what not reduced Engine Wear By some absurd Number like 70% etc.
  Yeah should be considerd ??? But Truthfully just a Shadeck Oil Pump and a Cow Magnet on the Oil Plate work's good also !
  As to your 1600 Pullin a Cylinder Stud ??????? Remove that Cylinder and install a case saver is best bett ! Ive never used the self Tapping Stud ?? Cant say one way or the other !!
  But realize that V.W. are infamous for jumpin up and down on deck !! The head's will jump up and down and cylinders will jump up and down and hammer both the Deck and the Head / Cylinder to head matte surface !
  This is common ! A lot of time and effort goe's intoo preventing this ! But look under the cylinder's for oil leakage if there leakin then you can bett there's been some hammerin goin on !
  Once they start you can Re- Torque the head's ?? But usual is the will just come loose after 10 or 20 K miles !
But look under the Cylinder's at the base , where they matte to the case if there's oil leakage I would say dont mess with, the Case saver instead try to fix it via a self tapper !
  But if there is no oil leakage ??? I would consider a more extensive repair ! Case saver etc ?
  AS to Oil droppage are you sure you got Pressure releif valve's in right ??
  Also Understand that 2 Different releif valve's are availiable !  One style is an Hour Glass type shape ! It is designed to increase oil pressure on Older Tired Motor's ??
  But in your situation ?? Think you might consider the $$$$ Tear her back down !! Good thing about tearin her back apart is that you will be able to see if there's any excessive wear starting ??
  You can tell by the wear what the motor's doin ?? Not Doin etc .
  Ive done this quite a few time's on Motor's they actually go together smoother with a better fitt etc. Runn smoother leak less oil etc.
  20 Buck's and re- ring  + the gasket sett !
  Not Un common to have a motor together and back apart 3 sometime's 5 or 6 time's ??
  Wouldnt wanna do it on a motor that has 5 or 10 K on it But Less than a 1000 Mile's I wouldnt even bother to re- Ring it !
  But to up the Pott ?? Total seal work better after a set of Cylinders has been run in or stretched ! I like a 2 nd Total seal ring !
  Lott's of trick's to runnin Total Seal ! there 100 buck's !!
  Apologize for leavin you in the Lurch !
  Feel Badly !
  But around here we been up to are Back side's with Detective's and Smash unit's etc. Been a Rough Mo Fo around here !
                                                                        Sean