I'm really stuck guys and I need your help.
I recently had my engine built and got it installed in the car but I can't hold a good oil pressure. I think I have tried everything under the sun short of tearing into it.
Let me start from the beginning:
When I start the car, everything is fine until it warms up.
I changed the oil and filter and still the same problem.
Next, I swapped oil pressure sending units thinking the oil light in the dash was wrong when I had good oil pressure. That's when I bought a mechanical oil gauge to hook up. The oil pressure starts at 40psi and then starts to drop until I cut the car off. I let it drop all the way down to about 6psi when I shut it down. There is no metal rubbing sounds at all.
Next, I dropped the oil pan and inspected the screen on the oil pickup. Clean of course.
Next, the engine was pulled and the main and rod bearing clearances were checked. All within spec.
Next, I checked the cam journal clearances. No problem there either.

What's next????

Oh, by the way, it has a brand new honda oil pump.

 

You should talk the guys that did your motor rebuild, they may know something and may have not told you about. Check the oil pick up unit under the oil pan and make sure its installed properly.

 

The oil pickup was installed correctly. I didn't notice anything wrong when I took it off to check the bearing clearances.

I talked to the shop and they said to check the oil pump relief spring to make sure it is not broken or stuck open. I really doubt it since it is a new honda oil pump.

I did notice the sealing bolt on the back of the block was missing. That is the bolt you take out when you want to hold the balancer shaft. I thought that was my problem but there has never been an oil puddle on the ground.

 

sounds like an oil pump problem......even though it's new doesnt mean its gonna be 100% perfect.......

 

thanks for your help guys.
i found the problem last night when i was getting ready to swap oil pumps. the bolt for the oil squirters was not there. since the h23 doesn't have oil squirters i guess it would be easy to overlook.
now my oil pressure pegs out the guage when i crank it and is about 30psi at idle.

 

man i have the exact same problem as you on my built h23...i have done everything but check the rod and main bearings...but i'm pretty sure they are within spec. I wonder if i have the same problem as you.

is this on a h23?? and where exactly is this bolt?

 

yeah, it is a h23.
the oil squirters are supposed to go on the bottom of the block. you have to take the oil pan and baffle off to get to it. it is between the 2 and 3 cylinders towards the back side of the block.
since your motor is built, it would be a good idea to install the squirters if you can find em. i am looking for some myself.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Penny &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yeah, it is a h23.
the oil squirters are supposed to go on the bottom of the block. you have to take the oil pan and baffle off to get to it. it is between the 2 and 3 cylinders towards the back side of the block.
since your motor is built, it would be a good idea to install the squirters if you can find em. i am looking for some myself.</TD></TR></TABLE>

so let me see if i am getting this right...i know our h23's doesn't have oil squirters, but you said there is a place for a bolt there between the 2 and 3 cylinders. Was this bolt missing and you just bolted it back on?..(what size bolt was it)?? is this how you got your oil pressure back?

I appreciate the help with this...i've been banging my head trying to figure out this low pressure situation...and it's almost exactly like yours.

 

i looked through my helms and didn't find anything about that bolt that you are referring to. do you think it was missed in the helms?

what year h23 do you have btw.

 

i have a 94 prelude. the bolt is not really mentioned in the helms. it just shows where the oil squirters bolt goes.

 

WOOHOO!! i just got done finishing it up and the pressure is now perfect!!!!!

THANKS for your help! Without this post..i would probably be tearing down by now. I had the exact same problem as you.

now i just got to fix those damn oil leaks..