Need to test oil flow in '96 Sonoma

[jdcfamily]

I recently had to tear down my engine because of a stuck lifter. As I went through I noticed there was no oil in the pushrod associated with the bad lifter and the lifter itself was badly damaged, as is the cam.

Is it possible that oil flow has stopped to that lifter? How can this be tested and/or repaired?

It's the 2.2 liter engine, NOT the 4.3.

 

[Molson02536]

I recently had to tear down my engine because of a stuck lifter. As I went through I noticed there was no oil in the pushrod associated with the bad lifter and the lifter itself was badly damaged, as is the cam.

Is it possible that oil flow has stopped to that lifter? How can this be tested and/or repaired?

It's the 2.2 liter engine, NOT the 4.3.

Your going to have to run some Marvel Mystery Oil though your engine. This should clean out any carbon that has restricted your engine oil through your oil journals. You should also test your oil pressure with a mechanical oil pressure gauge to make sure you have the right amount or oil pressure through out your system. You could have a oil pressure regulator spring that has gone bad.

With what you have described to the condition to your cam. Replace your crank and main bearing also just to make sure your not going to have any issues, since it looks like you may of had low oil pressure issues.

Good luck and keep us posted. 2.2L, 4.3L and 5.7L all take the PS220 oil pressure switch and will have 35psi at idle and close to 70 psi at 2K rpm to be within spec.

 

[jdcfamily]

35psi at idle? I don't think it ever drops below 50 on the gauge, idle or not.

 

[Molson02536]

35psi at idle? I don't think it ever drops below 50 on the gauge, idle or not.

35 PSI is the spec to the lowest point you should have at idle, if you have more that's good. Average at idle is 40-50 on most and 60-70 on high with 2K RPM. Also take not that the oil pressure sending unit is not accurate. It sends a signal to the gauge in 10 PSI increment. That's why you will not see 47, 58, of 73 PSI, that gauge there is just a simple way to inform you as the driver you have oil pressure and if it's on the high or low side.

Good luck and keep us posted on what your mechanical oil pressure readings are. Being at 50 PSI at idle also means you have a restriction in your system which is causing your oil pressure to be high at idle

Remember, you don't get your oil pressure from your oil pump but from your crank bearings.

 

[jdcfamily]

Thanks for your advice.

Is there a way to spin the oil pump and run the mystery oil through the system without actually running the engine which would require reassembling the whole thing?

I want to make sure I get it cleaned out before I put it back together with new lifters and have this problem again.

 

[Molson02536]

Thanks for your advice.

Is there a way to spin the oil pump and run the mystery oil through the system without actually running the engine which would require reassembling the whole thing?

I want to make sure I get it cleaned out before I put it back together with new lifters and have this problem again.

Not that i know of with the 2.2 vortec engine. Just run the Marvel Mystery Oil, the Marvel with clean out any sludge and carbon through out your engine and also the pick up screen on the oil pump. I use and Marvel on me Jimmy about 500-1000 km before i service the engine and i find my engine to run much better and cleaner. The used oil will be black as night without any moon light.

Good luck and keep us posted, and don't forget to use lots of http://www.royalpurple.com/assembly-lube.html when putting your top engine together.