193,000 miles and can't build up oil pressure

[PocolocoBob]

I have a 1990 bonnie with193,000 miles and can't build up oil pressure. Anybody know if there anything I can do before I just change the motor? I'm just going by the dash gauge, and I don't have the greatest pick up either.

[RJolly87]

Your first order of business is confirming that you do have an oil pressure issue. The way to do this is to check the pressure with a mechanical gauge. What other symptoms do you have?

[PocolocoBob]

Diminished pickup and a ticking from the engine. I just tried running it without the belt for a few seconds to see if the clicking is from the motor, it was.

[PocolocoBob]

My oil temp is in range. I will take that as advice about a mechanical guage.

[RJolly87]

I would definitely confirm that you do have no oil pressure. If a perfect 3800 has no oil pressure, the noise from the valvetrain is horrific, like a chatter. An aged 3800 is known to have a lifter tick (usually one or two lifters) that makes a noise with every other engine rotation.

[PocolocoBob]

Another thing is that the car sat without starting for six years. My dumb question is how does that cause my problems?

[rustyroger]

Another thing is that the car sat without starting for six years. My dumb question is how does that cause my problems?

You can expect drained lifters, sticky valves, drained oil pump and any rotating part such as alternator, water pump (the seal might dry out and leak) might have dry bearings. The AC probably won't work either, however I put a belt on a friends Dodge colt and it blew cold air after 5 years not running, well done whoever made Mitsubishi AC components!.

Roger.

[MattStrike]

It's possible that all the oil drained out of the oil passages, leaking past the bearings over time, creating a dry start condition, and possibly extra wear on some of the camshaft bearings, resulting in low pressure to some lifters. It will also show up on a mechanical gauge as lower than normal. This will have to be watched as the engine goes from cold start to hot low idle (192 on the temp gauge, 700rpm). Hot idle should not be less than 30psi.

Often, idle is not enough pressure to pump up a sticking lifter. So if the oil pressure is solid, you would need to run a cleaner through a few hundred miles before the next oil change to help free up the lifter(s). Only foolproof way to fix a sticking lifter is to pull them and disassemble (and check for wear) and let them soak in some carb cleaner overnight and rinse them off in the morning.

[PocolocoBob]

A lot to digest but I'm on it. Thanks for the info, I'm glad to have some direction.