A couple weekends ago I had my s14 idling while I was making sure everything was good for autox the next day and while idling I noticed the engine noise change pretty dramatically. I looked at the oil pressure gauge and it read zero psi. I figured the oil pick up fell off or something. I dropped the oil pan this week and the pickup is still bolted on and it didn't have anything clogged in it. This would lead me to believe the pump has gone bad but I didn't think oil pumps really ever went out on KA's. Especially while idling. I didn't find any metal in the oil either. If anyone has any ideas as to what's going on I'd greatly appreciate it.

 

Is everyone else as stumped as me or is there really no help on TR anymore?

 

Sounds like you nailed it in you first post. Youre right too, you dont hear of the KA oil pump failing often. Perhaps the indicator is that difference in engine noise you are hearing.

-Royce

 

Oil pumps are gear driven. Just because you don't hear of them failing doesn't mean it can't happen. I'd look into stress cracks on the inner casing of the pump, sheared gear teeth, or a faulty pressure relief spring. If your car ran for any length of time with no oil pressure you more than likely damaged the bearings.

 

the noise was the valve train ticking like mad from having no pressure. what i dont get is that if i fucked the mechanical pump mechanism, why is there no metal in the oil?

it idled for less than thirty seconds without pressure.

 

Im not sure if the oil pump took a dump. If your relief spring stuck open you'd still have no pressure. I know with the Sr oil pump it's in an enclosed housing and you wouldn't see pieces of it in the oil had it took a crap, simply because it would have to travel through the galleys and passages before it made it there and you need pressure/volume to move them. I'd def start at the oil pump and work your way out.

 

thanks guys

 

Well, if you dont see any metal in the pan, consider yourself lucky. Change the pan or just get another block, itll probably be easier to change the whole engine for another KA than replacing the pump on yours.

 

This...

 

any word?