Do I need a new engine/rebuild?

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Blackrosepet

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Sep 22, 2010

#1

• Sep 22, 2010

• #1

A day after having my intake manifold gaskets replaced, I lost oil pressure and it started tapping in the top-end. My mechanic and few second and third opinions say I basically just need a new engine. Could I possibly get by with a new oil pump and/or screen or do you guys suggest a new engine as well. The car presently has 190,000 miles on it but ran as well as to be expected before the oil pressure issue.

-amanda

 

Black95GTS

Active Member

Jan 8, 2004

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Marlborough, MA

Sep 22, 2010

#2

• Sep 22, 2010

• #2

Amanda,

I think that a rebuild is definitely in order. Not sure exactly what the carnage looks like though, maybe during the tear down something will be discovered. I don't agree that replacing the entire engine off the bat is best way to preceed, unless you can get a smoking deal on a quality junkyard replacement or crate engine.

Honestly at that mileage level a rebuild is a good idea regardless.

Adam

 

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Blackrosepet

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Sep 23, 2010

#3

• Sep 23, 2010

• #3

Welp, on advice from my mechanic, I started it up today after a week of sitting. It sat there and idled, with a few revs to 1500 or so for 30 minutes with perfect oil pressure. No tapping, nothing. This car has fixed itself before......i'm telling ya, I'm driving Christine.

 

Venom351R

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Sep 23, 2010

#4

• Sep 23, 2010

• #4

thats freeking odd

 

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Blackrosepet

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Sep 23, 2010

#5

• Sep 23, 2010

• #5

I drove it around my neighborhood for an hour at normal operating temperature, it finally lost pressure again, so there it sits.

 

Adam95GT

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Sep 23, 2010

#6

• Sep 23, 2010

• #6

Check the pressure sending unit just in case,

 

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Blackrosepet

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Sep 23, 2010

#7

• Sep 23, 2010

• #7

If it was the sending unit, would there be actual tapping? There would still be oil circulation if it was the sending unit, right?

 

Adam95GT

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Sep 23, 2010

#8

• Sep 23, 2010

• #8

Blackrosepet said:

If it was the sending unit, would there be actual tapping? There would still be oil circulation if it was the sending unit, right?

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Yes but the 2 issues could be un-related its just something id check before i put a whole new engine in there.

 

Venom351R

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#9

• Sep 23, 2010

• #9

Start with small stuff first before spending the big $$$

 

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Blackrosepet

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Sep 23, 2010

#10

• Sep 23, 2010

• #10

I'm starting with a new pump and pickup tube. My mechanic seems to think the oil screen is clogged. I think he screwed something up when he replaced the intake manifold gaskets.

 

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bayellowstang

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Sep 23, 2010

#11

• Sep 23, 2010

• #11

My oil pressure has been acting funny lately too. I'm pretty sure it's my sending unit though. I can start it and it will have normal pressure, but sometimes it has hardly any unless I shut it off and restart it then it's fine again. I would see if someone has a mechanical oil pressure gauge you could borrow and see what it says. That way you actually know how many PSI it has instead of it being "NORMAL".

 

Adam95GT

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Sep 23, 2010

#12

• Sep 23, 2010

• #12

Blackrosepet said:

I'm starting with a new pump and pickup tube. My mechanic seems to think the oil screen is clogged. I think he screwed something up when he replaced the intake manifold gaskets.

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Probably messed up the shaft when he reinstalled the ditsy or something.

 

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Blackrosepet

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Sep 23, 2010

#13

• Sep 23, 2010

• #13

Adam95GT said:

Probably messed up the shaft when he reinstalled the ditsy or something.

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Is that easy to do? I mean, I trust him, he's been working on my cars and my family's cars for probably 20 years and have never had any problem with repairs. I understand things do happen though.

If I go the new oil pump & pickup route, should I go with a new shaft as well?

 

Adam95GT

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#14

• Sep 23, 2010

• #14

Blackrosepet said:

Is that easy to do? I mean, I trust him, he's been working on my cars and my family's cars for probably 20 years and have never had any problem with repairs. I understand things do happen though.

If I go the new oil pump & pickup route, should I go with a new shaft as well?

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No i doubt thats your problem. And a new oil pump tends to come with a new shaft.

 

revhead347

Apparently my ex-husband made that mistake.

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Sep 23, 2010

#15

• Sep 23, 2010

• #15

Did he change the oil after doing the intake swap?

Kurt

 

Adam95GT

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#16

• Sep 24, 2010

• #16

revhead347 said:

Did he change the oil after doing the intake swap?

Kurt

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I was thinking that too... but i figured he couldnt be that dumb...

 

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Blackrosepet

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Sep 24, 2010

#17

• Sep 24, 2010

• #17

Yeah, he changed the oil. He said it was really sludgy and he "knew" it wasn't going to run much longer. Next day, boom, no oil pressure. What do you guys think of a motor flush, another oil change and a new pump and screen? I figure I'll spend the $300 before I start thinking of a new engine or a new car.

 

revhead347

Apparently my ex-husband made that mistake.

20+ Year Stangneter

Jun 14, 2004

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Sep 24, 2010

#18

• Sep 24, 2010

• #18

Motor flush works pretty well. Not sure if it isn't beyond that point though.

Kurt

 

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Blackrosepet

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Sep 24, 2010

#19

• Sep 24, 2010

• #19

Adam95GT said:

Probably messed up the shaft when he reinstalled the ditsy or something.

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Know what's funny, another (better) mechanic seems to think this is exactly what happened. He said if the mechanic who did the gaskets hadn't done such a job before that he could have easily not installed the distributor the right way.

 

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Blackrosepet

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Sep 29, 2010

#20

• Sep 29, 2010

• #20

So i haven't touched it since last Friday. Today i start it and it holds good pressure for about an hour of sitting/idling and driving around the neighborhood. After that hour or so, it starts to lose pressure. I can shut it off and let it sit a minute and when I restart it, it has pressure...wtf is going on here?