Okay fella's. I have built a d16z6 bottom to spec with a Y8 head. I used a D15 oil pump from a del sol.

The car was running fine and still is. It has hit its first 1k miles with 4 oil changes already. All of a sudden yesturday, after i hit vtec and stopped, the oil pressure light starting flickering on idle. When I accelerated, the light came off. I did research and found that its due to the sender unite reading under 7.5PSI at idle which causes the light to flicker.

I ran an electric autometer oil pressure guage yesturday to see were it was at and it reads below 10 psi on idle. (not too sure exactly were at idle as the guages doen not mark specific digits) I read several different "normal" psi readings from different people. Some say 10psi per 1k throttle and others say you should be no less than 60psi at 3k rpm. All I know is that the guage at 3k read about 25PSI. At 5k, it read 50psi. At WOT it read no more that 75PSI.

My question is, is this just a bad, failing pump or could I have spun a main bearing causing low oil pressure? And yes I did change the oil and oil filter to a mobile 1 filter and this morning I drove the car and the light still flickers on idle. What do you guys suggest? Can this just be fixed with shimming the oil pump or a new oil pump? Thanks!

 

if you spun a main bearing then youll deff hear some bad sounds.

why didnt you just run a d16z6 oil pump? I would change that if ur parinoid. Plus while ur doing that check your oil pick up and see if it clogged. ive heard stories of honda-bond or RVT sealent used for oilpans getting caught up in there.

 

I heard that d15 pumps were a little better. i will check my pickup as well as I did use silicone and I did find a piece of it in my oil filter. As far as sounds, I dont hear anything at all and the motor runs fine.

 

maybe your just a little low on oil? check your dip stick???

 

No, thats not it. I already changed oil and have enough oil. I even put on another oem oil pressure switch and light still flickers on idle when the car is warmed up.

 

I'm looking at a manual and it says 10 psi hot, at 3k 50. but, if memory serves right, for a d15 at idle it's suppose to be 15psi.

 

as for spinning a main bearing, drain the oil and look for shiny metal pieces

 

NO, I drained the oil and I had no shavings at all. This has me stumped.

 

was the oil pump new? a friend of mine reused an old oil pump and had the same issue.. low oil pressure at idle with the flickering light but it was fine above idle..
he replaced the oil pump with a new unit and his engines been running strong 20000 miles so far.

 

It was a used pump. Was it a D-series that it happened to?

 

any other suggestions?

 

up

 

replace your oil pump its cheap insurance against needing another motor i had mine replaced during my rebuild

 

it was a b series.. b18a1. but its the same idea.
Sounds like the gear in the oil pump is worn.. only making high pressure above idle.

 

Yea, I have come to the same conclusion as well. I will be pulling the pump off and specing it. Does anyone know the specs of what the gear should be?

 

???

 

Update...

I pulled the oil pan off and I found horror....



Spun 3 main bearings. I take it I had clearance issues. Oh well, back to the old drawing board.

 

ohh boy sorry to see the loss

Thats like nails on the chalk board to my eyes

What are your plans to do???

 

Drop the motor and see if anything is salvagable. I guess only the rods asnd pistons should be good. Crank and block journals should be scored.