Perhaps we had too much fun on the 4th.

 

While out thrashing around in the mud this weekend, my '84 GL Wagon lost complete oil pressure. Unfortunately, I didn't notice the gauge had dropped and the motor totally locked up before I could turn it off.

 

Amazingly enough, after letting the car sit while we went to fetch a tow rope it cooled down and when I started it up the pressure had come back up to about 75psi. I was able to run it for most of the rest of the day before it happened again. This morning I checked and all was well again. What is up with this thing?

 

I think it's time to find a new car, this one isn't really worth rebuilding or putting a new motor in. lol

Are you sure it didn't just overheat? Thin oil could cause the guage to not register, and severe overheating could cause the engine to stop running.

 

GD

Drain the oil and see if any fun supprises come out That will be a good indicator of any severe internall damage. Change the oil and the filter ASAP.

 

Seems to me if you totaly locked the engine that you would hear some funny knocking and clacking when you started her back up again. How did she sound and perform when you got her back running?

Are you sure it didn't just overheat? Thin oil could cause the guage to not register, and severe overheating could cause the engine to stop running.

 

GD

Hmm, that's a possibility. It looks like the radiator took some damage during one of the last runs we made.

Drain the oil and see if any fun supprises come out That will be a good indicator of any severe internall damage. Change the oil and the filter ASAP.

 

Seems to me if you totaly locked the engine that you would hear some funny knocking and clacking when you started her back up again. How did she sound and perform when you got her back running?

I had actually just changed the oil for the first time since the car was given to me. Dipstick still shows it's full, I'm betting they were running thicker stuff in it than I put back in.

 

It knocked, rattled and shook something fierce when I would try to start it immediately after it quit. After it cools down, it's a bit louder(probably the exhaust is loose again) but it runs fine. :-\

Severe overheating can cause those nasty noises you heard - pre-detonation of the fuel causes the severe knocking. My Brat did that when I lost all my coolant from a failed heater core hose. After I let it cool and made the repair, it started right back up and drove away as if nothing had happened.

 

You have probably at least cooked the seals in the oil-pump. You should replace them, and maybe the oil pump too.

 

GD

Severe overheating can cause those nasty noises you heard - pre-detonation of the fuel causes the severe knocking. My Brat did that when I lost all my coolant from a failed heater core hose. After I let it cool and made the repair, it started right back up and drove away as if nothing had happened.

 

You have probably at least cooked the seals in the oil-pump. You should replace them, and maybe the oil pump too.

 

GD

Sweet, maybe all is not lost afterall. Thanks

You might get away with minimal damage on this yet

 

Maybe in that mud whole you overheated as GD suggests. Also you might have been wiggeling loose the wire to your oil pump sennding unit which would make your oil pressure guage drop.

 

Check her over real good and good luck !_!