Low oil panic & pressure shenanigans...

[Kai]

DONT PANIC!

...at least, i hope not!

Started the Supe today to bring it back from a friends house, and after about 1/2 a mile, i noticed that the oil pressure was odd. It was 20psi, but barely going any higher. It was also a bit rattlier than usual from cold. I decided to baby it into town and get some more 10w40. What did i find when i got there? I was 2 and a half litres OUT. My friend pulled in behind me and told me that i'd been leaving small dribbles of it behind me (we were in a convoy). BOLLOCKS!

Checked the top end, and theres no oil filling the gallery, none dripping out of the cam cover, and it looks like the oil cooler (13 row mocal) is okay.

Could this be rear crankshaft oil seal?

And even with me refusing to exceed 2000rpm into town - have i likely fecked my bearings? After putting more 10w40 in, pressure was back up to normal - 38psi @ 2500rpm, 41psi @ 3500+rpm. I only used it to get home, no further. The infamous 'clack' of rod knock was NOT there.

It's parked in my hanger, on concrete, and will go out and check in an hour to see if i have any puddles under the car, or if it's only pumping it out under pressure.

What was curious, is that the lid of the power steering reservoir had a little dribble/pool of oil over it. As my CPS has no cap (ordering a new one), i've thought that it MAY be coming from that, and the shaft bearing is buggered (i know for a fact it had a new O-ring in November). It could be that as well...but EESH.

 

[gennro]

Rear main seal I would guess. I know when my 7M had a bad rear main seal it would be out of oil in no time.

 

[Kai]

GRRRR. Can you replace it with the engine in situ - or is it an engine out job?

 

[gennro]

GRRRR. Can you replace it with the engine in situ - or is it an engine out job?

You gotta drop the transmission to replace it and pull off the flywheel.

 

[CyFi6]

Cant really blame the rear oil seal without knowing where its leaking, figure out where the oil is coming from first and go from there, theres hundreds of places oil could leak. I doubt you would have a perfectly fine main seal one second and have it pour oil out the next

 

[Kai]

Okay - so i can fit it in situ. Do i need to remove the sump as well? TSRM doesn't obviously cover oil seal replacement in this manner!

I guess if i have to replace it - i have all the parts i need, and a new clutch to go in. Although, if it were the rear seal...and forgive me if this sounds stupid...wouldn't the clutch be slipping? (covered in oil?)

 

[gennro]

No, the oil will sit at the bottom of the bellhousing and drip down so look there first.

 

[dumbo]

If your saying you got engine oil on you ps resivoir I would not be looking at the rear main. Maybe something in the front?

 

[CyFi6]

Okay - so i can fit it in situ. Do i need to remove the sump as well? TSRM doesn't obviously cover oil seal replacement in this manner!

I guess if i have to replace it - i have all the parts i need, and a new clutch to go in. Although, if it were the rear seal...and forgive me if this sounds stupid...wouldn't the clutch be slipping? (covered in oil?)

The rear seal has a retainer, which is part of the pan rail. If you take the retainer off you have to pull the pan, but if youre just replaceing the seal, you pull the seal out and press a new one in.

 

[gaboonviper85]

kai....

the only thing you need to do is pull the trans and flywheel and youll have full access to the rear main seal....although i wouldnt start tearing shit apart unless you know for sure that it needs replaced as it is a pain in the ass to pull the trans.

also....just because you have low oil pressure does not meant that putting thicker oil in is going to cure the situation...yes it may increase pressure but it will also reduce flow...flow is far more important that oil pressure!!!!!


what you need to do is, pressure wash youre entire engine....jack the car up and pressure wash the bottom and everything....then once its all clean take her out for a few days and then start looking for fresh oil leaks....looking for leaks on a dirty motor is like trying to find a needle in a stack of needles!

 

[dumbo]

DONT PANIC!

...at least, i hope not!

Started the Supe today to bring it back from a friends house, and after about 1/2 a mile, i noticed that the oil pressure was odd. It was 20psi, but barely going any higher. It was also a bit rattlier than usual from cold. I decided to baby it into town and get some more 10w40. What did i find when i got there? I was 2 and a half litres OUT. My friend pulled in behind me and told me that i'd been leaving small dribbles of it behind me (we were in a convoy). BOLLOCKS!

Checked the top end, and theres no oil filling the gallery, none dripping out of the cam cover, and it looks like the oil cooler (13 row mocal) is okay.

Could this be rear crankshaft oil seal?

And even with me refusing to exceed 2000rpm into town - have i likely fecked my bearings? After putting more 10w40 in, pressure was back up to normal - 38psi @ 2500rpm, 41psi @ 3500+rpm. I only used it to get home, no further. The infamous 'clack' of rod knock was NOT there.

It's parked in my hanger, on concrete, and will go out and check in an hour to see if i have any puddles under the car, or if it's only pumping it out under pressure.

What was curious, is that the lid of the power steering reservoir had a little dribble/pool of oil over it. As my CPS has no cap (ordering a new one), i've thought that it MAY be coming from that, and the shaft bearing is buggered (i know for a fact it had a new O-ring in November). It could be that as well...but EESH.

It should be plain as day come on:: sunshine ::

 

[Kai]

I'd never be as stupid as to put in thicker oil to get the pressure up - come on, credit me with a little more intelligence than that.

I'm not a noob - i'm just paranoid with the 7M. I'd rather be cautious and go for 'worst case scenario' thinking than be unprepared. I'm a realist. I'd rather know the truth than hear 'you'll be okay' when i clearly won't be.

The pressure, as i said, was low. 18-20psi at idle, 24-25psi under load.

After dumping in 2.5 litres of Shell Helix 10w40, pressure was back up to 22psi at idle, 38psi @ 2500rpm and 41psi @ 3500+rpm. I've checked the oil since being back - no loss from the short trip i made, and no puddles under the car.

When it's light out tomorrow, i'll run the engine with it stood still, and take a good look underneath for where oil could be coming from.

 

[IJ.]

7M owners mantra "Check fluids daily before driving"

 

[Kai]

I know - my bad. It's always the one time you DON'T check it that shit hits the fan. I check it almost every time i go out - but on this one occasion, you've got pissing rain, no coat, you're cold, you're tired, you want to go home :/

 

[IJ.]

One and only time I RK'd a 7M was on the return leg of an 1800Km trip, I forgot to check before I left there was an accident on the highway ahead I braked hard and CLCK CLACK CLACKKKKK.....

I was still 400Km's from home so pulled in bought 2 litres of Diff oil topped it off and cruised hom..

 

[Kai]

Ian - you you reckon i've done serious bottom end damage? There's no clack noise, the pressure is perfect as always again (now it has oil)...or is the 7M toying with me before it goes 'LOL I go RK nao.' ?

It wasn't driven past 2500rpm, most of the trip (4 miles) was driven in 4th/5th gear at low speeds (barely 1800rpm most of the way), with no heavy braking. I really did baby it best i could

 

[IJ.]

LOL you'd know if you'd hurt it Kai

Keep an eye on hot idle pressures for a few weeks that's the first place you'll notice if you've picked up a bearing.

 

[Kai]

I've heard the clack of death before - i have no desire to hear it again!

 

[dumbo]

Pissing rain and your friend can still see oil dripping from your car, a car behind you. BULLSHIT, something isn't adding up here.

 

[Kai]

Just checked under the car....no signs of oil leak, no drips anywhere, although the rear part of the subframe is wet with oil, and the back of the sump. I've not lost any though - 14 mile round trip, with some full throttle, and the oil level has remained consistent.

Pressure is 25psi cold idle, and about 15psi hot idle - down about 2psi from what it usually is. Still, 3000+rpm is sat at 38 to 41psi, and the moment i touch the throttle, i have minimum 25psi oil pressure.

So i'm guessing that i have *some* bearing wear due to low oil but no imminent death?