Loosing oil pressure problem / R22E

[Steamman47]

I recently had the timing chain wear a hole in the cover, mixing water and oil in engine, major sludge did appear. Had chain replaced, new water pump, flushed engine and put back together. Now the engine runs fine for about 15-20 minutes and then it looses oil pressure. I have reflushed 3X and it still does same thing. It will idle at operating temperature sitting in yard just fine, but when i start driving is when it looses oil pressure. Let it cool down and the same thing happens again. Does not seem to be overheating.

[Vicoor]

get a test gauge a check the actual oil pressure. the dash gauges are only for reference, and are not that accurate.

[denniswoo]

if the pressure shows low on a manual gauge remove the plug on the oil pump and plunger and spring clean that it might be sticking and not allowing the pressure to build or a weak spring.

[Steamman47]

Thanks Dennis, You may have something there, The engine was all sludged up from the water getting into it when the timing chain cover failed.
I will let you know.

[Steamman47]

Also, I read that what may be causing the low oil pressure when at higher RPM is that it could have a loose Cam Cap. Is this something that could happen when replacing the timing chain?

[denniswoo]

unless you loosened up the cam they shouldn't be loose.in non overhead cam engines the cam bearings are pressed into the block and i have seen some of them spin due to wear or heat and that causes low oil pressure readings but not with these engines.vicoor said it best make sure your gauge is not reading bad first by checking with a manual gauge.if it shows low pressure with a manual gauge check the oil pump pressure regulator.i would leave the manual gauge on the engine and pull the regulator plug you might need to use a o ring pick to remove the plunger and spring.clean it out good if the plunger is sticking that might be a sign to replace the pump.there are a lot of other things that can cause low oil pressure and after the engine warms up like you have explaned,mainly worn out engine parts,bearings,rings,engine wear,worn out oil pump.if you dont find anything physically wrong with the oil pump parts i think i would replace it that would be the cheaper opition and if you have to rebuild you will have a new pump to start with.if you still have the same problem after replacing the pump you are going to be in for a lot more expence.water and oil mix on top of overheating can do some bad wear to an engine.