Low Oil Pressure
 

Took a 280ZX im interested in for a test drive today. Everything seemed to be in tip top shape except for 2 things. The first is the oil pressure. It is fine until the engine warms up, and then drops to almost nothing. My mechanic thinks it is probably worn out barrings and such. Any other ideas guys ? Give me some hope :-) .. The other is a huge HOWL from the back end of the car. Since the sound increases with RPM's and not speed, I am thinking mabe the gears are worn out. Anyone know if they are square cut or heli cut. Any info would be very much appriciated !!

Re: Low Oil Pressure
 

I have heard a howling transmission before, but it seemed to increase with speed and was definatly from the tranny, not the rear. Its not uncomon for a rear differential in a Z to howl while cruizing in 4th or 5th gear. As far as the rpms go... could it be a whine coming through the rear speakers? Sometimes your tach line will be close to the power wire of an amp that someone installed. :-)

The low oil pressure "could" (and most always is) a bad oil pressure sender unit. They opperate differently in most every circumstance when they go bad. Its $50 to buy one from Nissan just to see. Maybe ask the owner to buy it... or the dealer? anyway, that would be my guess. Or they are easy to replace. Bring one from another Z that has good oil pressure readings and then plug it in and see if it makes any difference. If so, put the bad sender back in knowing that the true oil pressure is fine.

http://www.zipcon.net/bleach/pages/zcar/zlogo.jpg

Re: Low Oil Pressure
 

Thanks a bunch bleech. It isnt a speaker thing, lol, this car has the orginal speakers ;-) . I'll check that out, me and the person im buying from have decided to leave the lines of communication open, because he wants to know what the problem might be as well.

Re: Low Oil Pressure
 

The oil pressure sender is not always at fault. My car had the same problem I changed the sender and no change. A sender will cost you $80 odd not sure exactly but it's worth getting someone to check again and make sure it's not bad bearings you don't wanna rebuild an engine just yet do you?

Gavin,
Melbourne
Australia
1972 Datsun 240z