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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - Lost oil pressure

After 2 years w/o my car I finally got it running today. It's a rover 4.2L V8 with fuel injection.

I checked and saw quite the large oil leak coming from the front of the motor and noticed that the bolt on the oil pressure relief valve was loose. I tightened it up, started the car again, and had no oil pressure. If I rev the motor to over 2,000 rpm's I start to get oil pressure, but beneath that it's 0.

Any ideas?
Justin

Justin
I would pull the relief cap out and check for a broken relief valve spring. Also check to make sure the valve is not sticking/binding.
Does the motor have any bottom end knock?
bill jacobson

Do you have the crank mounted oil pump or the an older front timing cover with the distributor drive oil pump?
M Mallaby

Buick "Metric" oil pump.

I yanked the spring and it isn't broken, but I couldn't really figure out how to get the relief valve out. Tiny hole, big fingers....

NO chance to check for bottom end knock. There's only about 10 minutes on the motor.
Justin

Try a magnetic pick up, they make them with very strong magnets these days. If it's a crank driven pump you might want to check the drive key.

Jim
Jim Blackwood

Since you have already taken the spring out, you might try a quick crank of the starter (with the coil wire disconnected). That should pop the relief valve out. Cover the hole with a rag to catch the plug and to contain the inevitable mess. That will help diagnose your problem. If the relief valve spits out, you know you have some oil pressure behind it. If it doesn't move, then that might indicate a sticky valve or a complete lack of oil pressure, maybe a pick-up problem.

Good luck.
Steve Mc

This thread was discussed between 24/09/2007 and 27/09/2007

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