welp my bro's car is a 90' plymouth laser turbo (2.0L) And i'm just posting this because i couldn't figure out what happened.
So, i'll start off by saying when i inspected it.. all i could notice was that the car was low about 1/2qt of oil. Also i didn't know (but do now) that the car has been running low on coolent for about a week and a half. So, after i started the car (after adding the 1/2qt of oil) i noticed smoke was comming from the radiator. So, i ddin't think a leaky radiator would cause low oil pressure but, could i be wrong? Thanks for any help. Also the oil cap has a bad seal causing the oil to leak out very slowly.
-Abe

[This message has been edited by Abe91Z28 (edited December 31, 2000).]

 

You need to be more soecific. Steam or smoke? If it's smoke you can have a cracked head or bad head gasket. You may want to change the oil and ckeck it for contaminants.

 

Abe,

The turbos run hot and are very hard on oil. I would suggest only synthetic, and keeping the heaviest grade recommended in the sump. The low coolant shouldn't cause low oil pressure unless there is an oil/water heat exchanger in the radiator to cool the oil. This could cause thinning and low pressure. I'm not too familiar with the Mitsu turbo engines, since it's pretty hard to get a good close look through my rear view mirrors. As cool as the weather has been, I would suspec the oil is probably not thinning drastically, and you may have bearing clearance problems. If the dash instruments are indicating low oil pressure, verify that with a separate gauge before you dig into anything.

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Later,
Vader
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"No matter how hard you try you can't stop us now"
Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0

[This message has been edited by Vader (edited December 31, 2000).]

 

Well, I'm not really sure on the oil pressure, but the low coolant is very likely a head gasket problem. I can't remember if there is an oil pressure port that runs through it that could be causing the low pressure also.

How many miles, etc.... how does it sound? We work on these often at our shop and the guy I work for is very familiar with them. If you don't find anything out, I can ask him Tues. night when I work again.



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Working on:
'84 Z28 LG4 305
Added dual elec fans.
145 MPH IROC Speedo
Building 430 HP 350
using primarily GMPP parts.
Block is in shop!

Awaiting results from all 8 ASE tests.

Starting to look like the Kicker poster child!

 

well, the car is steaming i guess from the radiator.. His car sounds fine when its running and in idle. he just recently had his oil changed (i think last week) i don't know if he used synthetic.. I'm going to look at it more today. when i looked at it yesterday it was like at 9PM. So, i'll check it out and let u guys know what is up.
also when i checked the oil (w/dipstick) i was looking for any signs of coolant, or water in the oil. and it was clean.

 

Update.. when i posted this message i talked with my bro on phone.. TODAY i actually drove the car.. heres what it is. While the car is idleing its fine except for the radiator. Now when i go to drive the car, that is a different story. It will drive fine for a bit, but whenever i get on the gas. it seems like the car will Sputter and make a backfire type of sound. I'm thinking that because the oil cap is leaky that some oil came out of the cap and is going into the spark plug area (i don't know if that is a good enough explination) but,(this is my theroy, I don't know if it makes sense, but here goes) if the car is idling its not loosing oil through the cap, so thats why it runs fine..but, when u get on the car more oil pressure is building and letting oil out through the oil and leaking into the spark plug area making the car sputter? I could be wrong(more then likely i am), and ANY info/ideas would be appreicated.
THANKS A TON!
-Abe

[This message has been edited by Abe91Z28 (edited January 04, 2001).]