QuestionQUESTION: I have a 93 Nissan pickup,with ka24e engine 161,xxx miles. my oil light is staying on for like a 1 min upon starting with loud engine noise/racket which both goes away.
1. Not standard Nissan few second lifter noise/tick
2. timing chain guard fixed long ago at like 80,000 miles
3. oil change fixed temporarily for few days.
3. I have heard several possible fixes/causes. being oil pan screen dirty, oil pressure sending unit, oil pump going bad, drainback oil filter related.
First I thought this was related to dirty oil and bad filter because after an oil change it seemed to fix it for like a few days or so, but the light /noise is staying on longer and longer it seems. I've heard that Nissan oil pumps rarely go bad, so I'm left wondering what this is. Let me point out I'm not precise on my racket noise due to being hard-of-hearing. the noise/racket before and after is quite profound.
I seek your expert advice/troubleshooting Mr Sudderth. and appreciate any given. I am lifelong Nissan buyer. W. Newsome
ANSWER: Walter,
Sounds like the oil pump needs to be replaced. You changed the oil and the noise went away for a time. You could verify before you drop the pan and replace the pump. First, replace the sending unit and change the oil and filter; use Mobil 1 5W30 synthetic. If the problem goes away you should be fine. Otherwise, you need to as a minimal replace the oil pump and if that does not do the trick the oil pressure needs to be brought up with new bearings. And, that is both rods and mains. Another option is a wrecking yard engine with low miles.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: I was going to try the Mobil1 synthetic and bought a Purolator PureOne filter. I have always changed my oil at 3000 miles too. after reading my Haynes, Chilton manuals it advises against using synthetic in higher mileage vehicles due to lighter oil seeping past worn parts easier due to thinner oil.
If I drain the oiland use synthetic, won't the synthetic mix with the conventional that's left in engine? It advises against the oils mixing also?? Can you provide me a rough estimate on what the oil pump repair will run in repair shop? is it a $200 or $1000 dollar job? a good pump cost around $100 retail, not sure if it needs kits or whatnot.
Thank you.
AnswerWalter,
Nissan recommends against synthetic oil. But, for what we are trying for, getting the oil galleries unplugged, the use of synthetic will not hurt anything. And, if seals start to seep it is just a matter of going back to conventional oil after we have corrected this problem. If changing the oil and the sensor do not correct the problem then you need to look at the bearings as being worn or a defective pump. And, you are right in the ballpark with the $1000 bucks for a oil pump replacement. Oh, I run Mobil 1 in all my Nissans and have had good luck. But, if you have a bad seal or gasket Mobil 1 synthetic will find it every time...
