No oil pressure

[Porschedave]

Hi Folks

I'm seeking some help as I have run out of ideas regarding my newly built motor -  a motor with no oil pressure. In all the VW engines that I've built I have never had an issue with oil pressure but I have one now. After all the careful work assembling the engine I put it in the car and with some excitement worked on starting it. Well, it started fine but there was no oil pressure. I turned it off and looked at everything but could not find anything obviously wrong. I tried a couple more times - it starts and runs but the oil pressure idiot light won't go out. I know this light and sensor work because there were in the old engine and worked fine.

I am at a loss to figure out the problem. The engine is relatively stock, a new dual relief case, 1776 with a full-flow system, 26 mm oil pump and a deep sump. Here's what I have done so far. During the build, I blew air though all the galleys and lines to make sure everything was clear and clean and then assembled the engine with much care.

Since I had no oil pressure and was not willing to continuing running it, so I pulled the engine out of the car and set it on a stand where I could turn it over with a battery and starter and look for problems. I am assuming that with some cranking there should be enough oil pressure to turn the light off. Thinking that perhaps I have made a stupid goof and forgot to put the gears in the oil pump I removed the cover but they were there and everything seemed fine. Turn the engine over and the pump gears move. I then went through a number of steps, including removing the deep oil sump (thinking there was a pickup problem), changed out the Gene Berg oil pump cover plate and used a Scat version, finally swapping out the 26 mm pump and installing a stock 21 mm pump - none of these had any impact. There is still no oil pressure. I installed a t-connector on the oil sending unit situated on top of the oil cooler and installed a mechanical pressure guage and it confirmed, no oil pressure.

During this process, I have also separated the oil lines to the full flow system so that I could see the output of the pump directly, into a container. These engines should generate considerable oil pressure at start up and yet I get only a dribble out of the hose.

I am at a loss as to what to do. It's like the pump doesn't pump or get oil and yet I know there is lots of oil in the case. I could begin to disassemble the engine but I am not sure what I would be looking for. I had thought with your broader experience at these engines someone might have a suggestion.

Any thoughts, questions or advice would certainly be appreciated.

Thanks.

Dave
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1977 911S
1965 Sunroof Notch
1958 Karmann Ghia
http://www.sandersonmotorsports.com
Notch build thread here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482533&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0&sid=fa176f0eb3dd02b8f3152e46fa22221b

[owdlvr]

- Are you putting the pumps in dry, lightly lubricated or packed with grease?
- What are the details of your full flow system? 
- Is the pump tapped and plugged? How about the case?

These engines should generate considerable oil pressure at start up and yet I get only a dribble out of the hose.

So you are moving some oil then? How long have you run the engine to try and build oil pressure?

What assembly lube did you use, and what oil is in there now?

-Dave

[mitchy965]

full flow fitting blocking off galley,pick up tub loose in case,relief valve stuck open,oil inlet on pump incorrect,pull the plugs so she spins fast

[52 split]

did you put the oil relief springs and pistons in. and in the right place?

[Porschedave]

Greetings All

Thank you all for your supportive comments and suggestions. Today, I put the engine back on the engine stand and double checked everything. It was a comment, made by 52 split I think, to examine the oil control and oil relief valves. I was able to get the relief valve out without a problem and everything looked fine. However the oil control valve seemed stuck. After much fiddling around I grabbed a flashlite to look in the hole to see why it was stuck and I saw a hole in the valve itself. As soon as I saw that I knew what I had done. There was a mantra that I was told when I started on these type 3s that suggests never throw out T3 parts and so in my collection of control valves there was one with a hole it the top. I selected it based on the profile but didn't notice the hole - a hole that I had drilled to get it out of a previous motor. So I put another in (one without a hole) and lo and behold oil pressure - lots of it.

I feel so dumb but on the flip side I am pleased to have found the problem. I think that the motor will be in tomorrow and running - yahoo!!!

Again, thank you everyone for your supportive comments. I guess the lesson learned is to double check everything everytime. I"ve learned a new lesson - not bad for an old retired guy.

Dave

[52 split]

its nice when things work out. iam glad i steered you in the right direction. cheers Boris