Help, oil pressure problem.......... - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

340x · 10-15-2008, 02:01 PM

I have a '90 MR2 that I rebuilt an engine for awhile back. Engine runs good and I can drive it anywhere. The problem I am having is that it drains all the oil out of the system if it sets for over 20 minutes not running. So, everytime I start it up I am getting dry start situation. It eats rod bearings every 1000 miles or less because of this. You can take the oil filter off and not even a drop of oil will run out of it. It takes 10 seconds or so to get oil pressure up which eats the bearings. Once the oil pressure gets up it holds 60 PSI all day long. I have driven it on several 8 hour trips with no problem. I have put an actual toyota oil filter on it, new rod bearings( 3 sets), new oil pump and nothing makes any difference. The techs at Toyota have no clue either. I hate to scrap a new motor. I don't even have 5000 miles on it yet. Any help would be appreciated.

tHa kNiGHt FaLL · 10-15-2008, 05:28 PM

which motor do you have...

and you rebuilt the motor...? need some details to how in depth did you go in your rebuild. we talking about replacing seals and gaskets...? or full machine deck / cylinder / and clearances...?

i mean not to knock your abilities but you need to question the quality of the build before start diagnosing engine dynamics.

340x · 10-15-2008, 05:41 PM

It has the 2.2 non-turbo engine. I had the engine bored, new pistons and rings, bearings and gaskets. Engine was hot tanked before reassembly. I have been building motors for 20+ years. I have never seen this before, ever. I have checked the spring below the oil filter, replaced the oil pump with a brand new on and am even using the Toyota filter which is suposed to have and anti-drain back valve in it.
Something is letting the oil drain back to the pan. I don't ever lose any oil anywhere or have any leaks. I have an extra engine I just don't want to have to pull it again and have a new engine just sitting on the floor.

Thanks

tHa kNiGHt FaLL · 10-15-2008, 05:55 PM

i've never heard of a motor having a dry start w/ a known good or new oil pump.

unless the bearing clearances are just out of specs...

tHa kNiGHt FaLL · 10-15-2008, 06:01 PM

and when i did the bearings on my motor... i had alot of trouble getting the right ones. there are like 3 different stock sizes w/o even going into over or undersizing. i had to go back to the dealer like 6 times cause only one of their parts guys was smart enough to know that.