After reading Haynes and searching web for a fix to my issue with the AT -> MT conversion...I'm now able to start-up my ZX!!

Now, I have an issue with the oil pressure gauge....needle is at zero, but I did see oil on the head and noticed it nicely oiled up. The oil pressure sensor is brand new and wired up.

I know I have a couple of more bugs to fix as the engine dies out after 30 seconds or so.

 

You should read up on hybridz.org, they might have something over there for u

 

In reference to what? lol

 

In your AT to MT change.

 

You should come to ZDriver more often.

 

The AT->MT problem was fixed.

Now I just need to figure out what's going on with the oil pressure gauge that's not reading pressure.

 

Put your old oil pressure sensor back in & see if it gets a reading.

 

A way to check to see if it's the oil pressure gauge or the sending unit itself is to ground out the connector that attaches to the sending unit. Have someone put a nail inside of the connector, and hold it to an exposed bolt on the body somewhere, wherever you can find a clean ground. Jump in the car while the wire is grounded, and turn your key to the ON position. If the gauge jumps all the way to the right (super high oil pressure) then the gauge and connection are in good working order, and the sending unit needs to be replaced. If it doesn't move, then the gauge or wiring is suspect.

 

Now, I also have an issue with the way the oil looks. I was able to get the engine started for less than a minute (more like 30 seconds) and when I pulled the oil dip stick I found something odd with the way the oil looked.

If any of you don't mind following this link, I took a picture of the oil dip stick and then I poured some of it on my fingers, and the oil looks weird. Now, I don't know if this is normal on rebuilt engines/heads.

Since I noticed that, I haven't tried to start the engine because I don't want to mess anything up.

 

need... to... focus... camera... better... Is it foamy?

 

Did you take a look at the ones with the oil on my hand? Yes, it's foamy.

 

man that sure looks like coolant mixed with oil...I hope I am wrong.

 

Oh man, don't say that...

Well, I checked the radiator and I didn't see a loss of coolant fluid, but I don't know.

 

That really isn't looking too good to me, but then again I dunno. I found something like that inside the radiator of my van when it almost overheated, but it was just like a little bit that was floating on top, and the oil on the dipstick looked fine. 200+ miles later, the van is still running fine not smoking or anything. So just do this now, Do a compression check and see what happens.

 

looks like coolant to me too.

 

Yeah, I think you guys are right

I removed some oil from the engine and this is what came out...

Well, at least I can go back to the guys that put the engine together and have them take a look at what they did.

Such a bummer...

 

You had peanut butter in your crank case?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!


WTF?


Rod.

 

Well, I got my engine to start yesterday. It ran for 20-25 seconds; I cranked it four times.

On the first attempt (after priming it), I checked the oil and it was foamy and yellowish.

So, yes...I have to go back to the shop that put my engine together and have them take a look at what's going on. I'm sure something they didn't do right is causing the coolant to leak in the engine.

 

Well like I said, do a compression test if you have time.

 

Well, at this time I don't want to do anything, but talk to the shop that worked on my engine. They put it together and they did the head job, etc, etc. In other words, they built it for me.

 

Makes sense. I don't know what they'd do if they would try to pass it off as you did something or not. I imagine there must be some kind of warranty on it anyway. Man that sucks though, getting it all in and having a problem like that. Good luck.

 

You have the death mayonaise my friend. time to call the BBB if the shop gives you any trouble. BAR too.

 

Hey, if it is coolant...maybe it will keep your oil temps down

 

Yeah, it really sucks...I was so close to get my ZX back in drivable conditions.

I hope they don't give me s⁢ the only thing I did was put the motor back together and I added coolant!

 

So, I found what the problem was...the four coolant seals on the head were not properly tighten, so they were leaking coolant to the head.

According to the shop that built my engine, I should not have any issues because I didn't run the engine for too long (which is the case).

I tighten those seals, changed the oil and oil filter twice...turned the engine back on and it ran for a bit longer this time (close to a minute), and I looked at the oil dip stick and it was nice and clean.

I shut off the engine because my oil pressure gauge still not working, and I've been checking the level of the coolant.

Now, I'd like to get your opinion..will this mix of coolant/oil damage any of the interior components of my engine; should I send it back to those guys? The guys at the shop were cool about it and they guaranteed me that the engine will be fine. They did give me the option to take it back to them.
When I had this freak mixture..I started the engine 4 times, but in these four times the engine never ran more than 30 seconds.

What do you guys think?