scooby_doo_do Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 Well, i think my ultima's not too well.. Took it for a drive today, and noticed the oil pressure dropped from 2 1/2 bar to 1 bar when i pulled up to a stop after a 5 mile drive. Pressure went up if i held the revs to just over 1k, but wasn't ideal. Drove home (5 mins if that) cut it off and checked it over. Seems I've lost a fair bit of oil somewhere, as although no drips, the underneath of the car had a film on it. Checked the water once cooled down, and noticed it was dark and lurky, not milky - but looked dirty. - Hopeing it's not oil, but that would explain where the oil's been going and why the car's burning it. Oh well, had the car two weeks and a hidden problem has occured - I guess that's why it was up for sale. Anyone want to buy a 24k lemon? Hopefully it's nothing too bad - i think worse case is a head gasket - so does anyone know how much it would cost to get repaired? 5.7 v8 chevy small block. Any other damage it may of caused? What checks i can do before i send it off to the garage? - i was thinking of taking out a spark plug and seeing what that looked like? Thanks Craig. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave17 Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 If you take it to a garage they can do a compression test on the engine to ascertain if its the head gasket or not. Also they can do a chemical check on the coolant i think to see if there are hydrocarbons, indicative of HG failure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tooquicktostop Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 Oh dear thats a real shame, I used Bob Harmen Performance in Watford for my Small block Chevy work with the Camaro, they were very good and charged at a very reasonable rate, Mark at Pheonix put me in contact with them Hope you get it sorted with as little pain to the wallet as possible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooby_doo_do Posted June 30, 2008 Author Share Posted June 30, 2008 I stuck some pics of the mess it's made to my engine bay on here: http://www.tripkings.co.uk/ultima (last few pics) there's also a loose wire that i have no idea where it's come from... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 A head gasket failure won't, per se, cause bad oil pressure. is it an electric gauge or mechanical? If electric check the pressure on a proper mechanical gauge, some senders can be very suspect. I'd pull the engine and have a look inside the bottom end if it's REALLY bad oil pressure, and not a lying sender. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamieP Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 (edited) Sorry to hear that, i know off a very cheap new SBC lump sitting in the corner of a workshop that was ment for an ultima but the owner decided on a ls2 lump, its complete and looks the bizz, £1800 he wants for it, if you want it give me a pm and i will put you intouch with him, good luck with it:) The guy builds ultimas and can install it fr you. Edited June 30, 2008 by JamieP (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swampy442 Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 Bad news Craig, its an aweful feeling buying a possible lemon. Im with Chris, make sure the oil pressure is crap before panicking. After that maybe sump off to check the pump strainer... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooby_doo_do Posted June 30, 2008 Author Share Posted June 30, 2008 For an update guys - Just checked the oil level and it was only just regestering on the dipstick - I then straightened the dipstick as it was curved and tried again - Hey presto - the oil is sitting dead on the MAX fill line. As for the oil pressure - spoken to a few chaps on the ultima forum, and they think that the loose wire should be for the oil pressure sensor - however - they did mention that the oil i put in it as advised by someone from Le Mans was the wrong type (10-45) apparently i should of used 20-50. So anyway - it's going to the garage to have all the fluids replaced brakes, engine, gearbox etc, and then i'll see what's what. I've also got two chaps who have built there own Ultima's coming over on Sat (maybe) to have a look and see if they can help. God i love forums.... They make you so worried - yet so satisfyingly happy when it's all good news. - ok not good just yet - but still happier than yesterday.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 One of the best oils I have used in pushrod engines is Valvoline Racing, a low ash mineral oil with superb anti scuff properties, that helps with cam to follower wear. Being low ash it helps stop det, too, as the huge piston and valve areas are less likely to suffer glowing particulates form oil ash formation. I would be amazed if your oil pressure problems are oil grade related, absolutely amazed. If it has an oil cooler you should use a filter with an anti drain back valve within it, and you need to be sure the line and fitting sizes are adequate for the oil flow these engines generate. They can also loose substantial oil pressure if the oft neglected cam bearings aren't changed, as they tend to be left as few people have, or can be bothered to make, suitable mandrels to remove the old and fit the new. Once out it's a very basic and easy engine to fiddle with, at stock performance and mild tune levels, it is often better to fix what you have rather than risk something used and unknown. Do a leakdown test, a compression test, a gasses in coolant test and a check the oil pressure hot on a master gauge straight off the main oil gallery. It's not dry sumped, is it??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooby_doo_do Posted July 1, 2008 Author Share Posted July 1, 2008 Thanks Chris - I'll keep an eye in it all and get the garage to stick a decent gauge on it. Sill question though - is there any way i can find out if it's got a dry sump? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted July 1, 2008 Share Posted July 1, 2008 I have just had a look at the photos, it hasn't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swampy442 Posted July 1, 2008 Share Posted July 1, 2008 Dry sump isbasically instead of oil stored in a sump under your engine the oil is stored in a seperate tank. Your dipstick indicates you havent got a dry sump motor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooby_doo_do Posted July 1, 2008 Author Share Posted July 1, 2008 Thanks Guys :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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