Low Oil Pressure 13BT BJ74

[_Walker_]

Hey folks, so I cant seem to find much info on this so maybe someone here has some ideas.
My new 89 BJ74 13BT seems to have low oil pressure… I haven’t yet checked with a mechanical gauge (this is the next thing on the list) however I am somewhat concerned…
When she first starts up the oil goes up to maybe ½ before the green line STARTS. Once warm at power she seems to stay somewhere around that point, however once warm at Idle it drops off the screen… Now when I was thinking about buying the thing I was about to walk away from just looking at it, BUT that same shop showed me 3 other trucks all which were doing the same thing, and totally randomly a good buddy of mine called up saying he had just bought a BJ74 of his own today in Alberta, and he was wondering the same deal as well…
Ideas?

I AM going to get a “REAL” reading on it, I understand 4.5psi ISH for Idle and 20 ISH at power… but has anyone else experienced this anomaly? And if so what were your conclusions?

DANKYA!

 

[Z()LTAN]

try some better oil

 

[Cruiser70]

Hi,
This is my first post after being a lurker for a 1 year, so hello all
I had the same issue with my KZJ70, unfortuantly I never got to the bottom of it.
We tried inpecting the oil cooler, new oil pump, new big end bearings they looked worn.
Hooking a gauge up to it showed 4-5 psi @ idle, and 15-20 psi at 3000rpm. Which would suggest its ok according to the manual.
I would hook a gauge up first and see if its within specs?
After doing hours of seaching, the only thing I could come up is the gauge is faulty on the dash?
Check the pressure sender as well it could be that, apparently they can short out and over voltage the gauge which causes the metallic strip to bend hence the low reading?

 

[roscoFJ73]

When she first starts up the oil goes up to maybe ½ before the green line STARTS. Once warm at power she seems to stay somewhere around that point, however once warm at Idle it drops off the screen…

DANKYA!

All of them do it,well both my 1HZ and others I know report the same thing and its normal.

When you start up cold the engine is tight and as it warms up it loosens up a little around the crank bearings and the pressure drops off.

The factory gauge is a best an indicator that something maybe wrong.

Do the mechanical gauge test outlined in the manual and satisfy yourself.

I would be hoping for something better then 20 psi @ 3000rpm though.

Try testing it before and after an oil change.

 

[OILERSrule]

I have a 87 BJ74 and have had the same issue since i bought it. doesn't seem to matter what I do it still does this even right after an oil change. just FYI.

 

[Greg_B]

Stock gauges are notorious for reading incorrect. Only way to know for sure is put a mechanical gauge on and see what the cold idle, hot idle/high rpm numbers are. Then you will know...

Almost had a heart attack in the early days when driving a parts HJ61 back from the docks. Stopped at a light and the gauge when to the bottom line. When a mech gauge was on, all was fine.

hth's

gb

 

[Tapage]

Almost had a heart attack in the early days when driving a parts HJ61 back from the docks. Stopped at a light and the gauge when to the bottom line. When a mech gauge was on, all was fine.

I just wonder why .. it's the same in other cars . ?

I have no much really experience ut my both Cruisers had the same issue with oil gauges ..

 

[frp88]

mine is the same has been since I bought it

 

[Malahki]

Same goes. Mechanical gauge showed 48psi at 2500RPM according to the garage that did my inspection before I would purchase it.

 

[gottoy]

had several 13BT engines, one in a bj71(stock) and one in bj43, both had the same problem you mentionned...a specialist told me they all had the same reflect on the meter...

no worry...keep on driving

excellent engine by the way! sold them for a 1HZ engine and i regret it, 13BT is lighter and has more fun to drive, a more sporty feeling!