No oil to head for a bit after startup... am i screwed? - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

alpalwal1 · 08-05-2006, 02:53 PM

started the motor up for the first time (ka-t) and then shut it off after about 30 seconds when i realized there was no oil pressure.

once i figured out my oil pressure problem i started it up again and the head clacks a lot.

i pulled the valve cover and my cam caps.... the cams, caps, and journals (below the caps) have scoring from lack of oil.

what should I do? this is bad, but is this at least what was clacking?

do I have to pull my head or should i just get new cams and caps?

Help!!

zugoi · 08-05-2006, 03:22 PM

Did u check to see if you have any oil first? maybe your oil pan was leaking over night or while you were doing the built. Can also be oil pump, just check to see if you have oil or any leaks. Good luck

LA_phantom_240 · 08-05-2006, 10:13 PM

um.. if you had no oil pressure, make sure your timing chain tensioners didnt seize first off.. then, dont go pulling your head, check the clearances in the cam journals or whatever i cant think right now.

daryl337 · 08-06-2006, 06:04 PM

30 seconds should not do MAJOR damage. Are you sure you did not run it for longer? Or were you running it at a higher RPM? It had been a long time since ive pulled a valve cover off of a KA (I've been an SR guy for over a year now).. but if you have hydraulic lifters, you are more than likely clicking from a lack of oil pressure to the lifters. Something I would be more concerned about is the internals. If your oil pump was cavitating enough to score your cams, then your rod and main bearings can do the same. =/

alpalwal1 · 08-06-2006, 06:14 PM

My car is finally running, but poorly. It's a built KA-t with msd 50lb injectors and a safc

first off my boost gauge only says 10" of vac at idle and it should be at 20. I tried the boost leak tester and i didn't find anything. What else could lead to low vacuum?

second, when you try to rev the engine up at all it just dies. i've gotten it up to like 1.5k with like 2% throttle, but any more and it dies.

the safc was all set up for my old sohc ka with 450's. besides leaning the injectors out a bit, is there anything else I should have changed between sohc and dohc?

*NemeGuero* · 08-06-2006, 07:13 PM

replace oil pump...

08-05-2006, 02:53 PM	#1
alpalwal1 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Ca Posts: 46 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	No oil to head for a bit after startup... am i screwed? started the motor up for the first time (ka-t) and then shut it off after about 30 seconds when i realized there was no oil pressure. once i figured out my oil pressure problem i started it up again and the head clacks a lot. i pulled the valve cover and my cam caps.... the cams, caps, and journals (below the caps) have scoring from lack of oil. what should I do? this is bad, but is this at least what was clacking? do I have to pull my head or should i just get new cams and caps? Help!!

08-05-2006, 03:22 PM	#2
zugoi Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Bay area Posts: 560 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Did u check to see if you have any oil first? maybe your oil pan was leaking over night or while you were doing the built. Can also be oil pump, just check to see if you have oil or any leaks. Good luck __________________ Drunk posting FTW!

08-06-2006, 06:14 PM	#5
alpalwal1 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Ca Posts: 46 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Car just doesn't run well My car is finally running, but poorly. It's a built KA-t with msd 50lb injectors and a safc first off my boost gauge only says 10" of vac at idle and it should be at 20. I tried the boost leak tester and i didn't find anything. What else could lead to low vacuum? second, when you try to rev the engine up at all it just dies. i've gotten it up to like 1.5k with like 2% throttle, but any more and it dies. the safc was all set up for my old sohc ka with 450's. besides leaning the injectors out a bit, is there anything else I should have changed between sohc and dohc?

08-06-2006, 07:13 PM	#6
NemeGuero No more nissan. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: RAIN, Washington. Age: 40 Posts: 8,132 Trader Rating: (10) Rides Gallery: NemeGuero Feedback Score: 10 reviews	replace oil pump... __________________

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08-06-2006, 06:04 PM	#4
daryl337 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Pac NW Age: 39 Posts: 589 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	30 seconds should not do MAJOR damage. Are you sure you did not run it for longer? Or were you running it at a higher RPM? It had been a long time since ive pulled a valve cover off of a KA (I've been an SR guy for over a year now).. but if you have hydraulic lifters, you are more than likely clicking from a lack of oil pressure to the lifters. Something I would be more concerned about is the internals. If your oil pump was cavitating enough to score your cams, then your rod and main bearings can do the same. =/