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Date: Sun, 2 Jun 2002 09:19:58 +0000 (UTC)
From: "SimonJ" <Menopsam.net>
Subject: Re: Saab 9000 low oil pressure


"danny" <dannynopsamia-esprezzo.com> wrote in message news:3CF9DE0D.FA9FAEE1nopsamia-esprezzo.com... > That famous phrase RTFM comes to mind... > > Yesterday, after using the car a few times normally, I went out last > night and the oil light in the pictogram didn't extinguish. Not having > the manual to hand, I checked the oil level and found it to be on the > low mark. "clever engineering" I thought. I was going to the local > supermatket anyway, and I reasoned I would pick up a litre of oil while > I was there. I noticed that the engine sounded a little noisier than > usual. I added sufficient oil to get the level to the max mark (less > than a litre), but was surprised to find that the light didn't > extinguish. I had a friend with me who wanted a take away on the way > home, so we drove another couple of miles at <40mph to the takeaway. We > then noticed that the engine noise was now much louder (hydraulic > tappets tappeting!). I waited whilst he got his food. Neither of us > had a mobile on us (why is that!) so I gingerly drove the 2.5 miles home > at low speed, oil light still on. The car drove OK, didn't sieze, and > we made it. > > The previous day the tappets sounded noisy for a short while, but it > rectified itself shortly after. I'm also a little surprised that the > level was a little low on the dipstick, as it doesn't usually use oil > between changes. > > I assume that either there is a problem with the pump, or the relief > valve is shot, or the strainer is blocked? The vehicle is '91 9000 non > turbo, has 135k miles on the clock, has always had regular oil changes > etc. Have I damaged it irrepairably by driving it home with an obvious > oil problem? I know how to find how difficult it is to get to the > strainer and the pressure releif valve - My Haynes manual is a bit > obtuse about the pressure relief valve, and shows pictures that seem to > suggest that the amount of dismantling required to get to it is > incorrect. Can I get to the oil strainer by just removing the sump? > any tips or suggestions on other possible causes and whether the vehicle > is likely to require much more remedial work? If it does, it would be > cheaper to get another engine, since I have limited funds (unemployed at > present) and it already was pretty near to needing timing chain/balance > chain work. > > Doesnt sound like a minor fault, if it has suddenly used a lot of oil, then lost all pressure. A pump problem wouldnt cause an oil loss, can you see any leaks anywhere? Could be all manner of things, you will need to do some stripping(the engine that is) to find out what. The good news is that the oil pump , releif valve etc is all in the timing cover, which you need to remove to do the chains. You should be able to get to the strainer by taking the sump off, but if there is enought clag in there to block it, then this would sugest serious problems. All in all, it looks like a replacement engine is your best bet.

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