Close as I wanna get......

[msgn2]

Boy, Talk about luck......
I recently lost oil pressure last week , happened to look down at the gauge after driving about 1/2 mle @ less than 5 psi of oil pressure . OUCH!! Immediatly shut it off and had it towed home. When I shut off it had a *tick* already....Fiqureing the worst , I had drained the oil and changed the filter..... however no metal anywhere!!!
Filled the filter, unplugged the orange lead wire, and cranked a few times with fresh oil. After about 4 or 5 trys...reconnected the wire and she started right up..... ticking was there , but eventialy went away...... Lifters?
My questions are :
1. How much damage may have happened ?

2. Should a switch to synthetic help any? ( I know that subject has been talked about before) . Right now its Castrol 20W50.... (South Fla HOT days..)

Thanks

 

[2 QK 4 U]

I would figure out why you lost oil pressure before deciding on the oil type.

 

[spidereyes]

Sounds like it may be time to rebuild and upgrade the oil pump. They have allways been the weak link in any buick engine.

 

[Turbo6Smackdown]

Never use 20w50 in a tr.

 

[Quick6'n'-K.C.]

I would figure out why you lost oil pressure before deciding on the oil type.

Check your PM box buddy, havent heard from you since before thanksgiving?

BW

 

[Boost231]

Never use 20w50 in a tr.

y not?

 

[Steve]

Never use 20w50 in a tr.

I ran 20W50 in my first GN back in the late 80's/early 90's when I lived in FL. 132K miles and no problems at all( and they weren't easy miles!). Still had the stock turbo on it when I sold it.

But back on topic. I would definatley want to know why you lost oil pressure in the first place. I have seen a few people lose oil pressure due to loose pick up tubes or wear in the front cover oil pump area. I had a 71 GS 350 that lost oil pressure due to wear in the front cover area(Buick 350's have the same front cover set up as 3.8's) I had to buy a kit from the auto parts store with a new plate at the end of the gears.

 

[ChavoLC2]

Oil pressure now?

More importantly What is your pressure now? You Sound like it's fine now you must've towed it home and fixed the oil pump or was it just that low? Man I've been using 20-50wt. Brad Penn the green oil . didn't know it was bad thought that good ol' Pennsylvania dino oil was good for our cars since it has all the stuff in it that they try and supplement now ZDDP and the like.

 

[BlackBandit]

It's not necessarily bad to run 20w-50. You should just make sure the engine is built for it. Buick said to run 10w-30 right? (I'm asking because I'm not sure) If they did they did it for a reason. Probably the same reason they said to check oil pressure at around 2200 rpm in the shop manual. They were more worried about flow and operating pressure than about idle pressure since idle oil pressure doesn't matter that much. There was a good thread about this awhile back. (few months I think) It had some good reading in it.

 

[turbo nasty]

Never use 20w50 in a tr.

165k miles on the 87 and its had 20w 50 and no cam sensor failure or other downs so far...

 

[turbo nasty]

It's not necessarily bad to run 20w-50. You should just make sure the engine is built for it. Buick said to run 10w-30 right? (I'm asking because I'm not sure) If they did they did it for a reason. Probably the same reason they said to check oil pressure at around 2200 rpm in the shop manual. They were more worried about flow and operating pressure than about idle pressure since idle oil pressure doesn't matter that much. There was a good thread about this awhile back. (few months I think) It had some good reading in it.

Buick also said change the oil every 7500 miles??

 

[BlackBandit]

Buick also said change the oil every 7500 miles??

That doesn't have anything to do with why you should or shouldn't use heavier oil than the engine needs.

 

[scottyb]

20w50 here since ~ 175k miles, now at 225k. Florida.