1990 2.5i "spec’d out w/ 225/50 15’s…after installing gauges up in my upper ac vent…I have now confirmed the dreaded drop in op …this occurs on lt handers only! it was quite noticeable on Pocono infield and Lime Rock’s only lt hander. OP literally plummets …my added warning lite( attched to oe lite) does not lite so Im assuming Im still above 7 psi…but not by much. Ill do a crank scraper when oil pan gasket get replcd.
oil pressure issues confirmed
traqrat
#2
Yep. I installed a crank scraper recently and my OP problems disappeared.
But beware, the crank scraper isn’t exactly precision machined and I found I had to do quite a bit of cutting and grinding before it fit.
screwynewy
#3
traqrat wrote:
[quote]Yep. I installed a crank scraper recently and my OP problems disappeared.
But beware, the crank scraper isn’t exactly precision machined and I found I had to do quite a bit of cutting and grinding before it fit.[/quote]
How involved is installing a crank scraper? Scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being changing the oil and 10 being replacing the sub frame bushings.
sharkd
#4
I installed a 2qt Accusump (20 psi valve) and remote oil filter on the right side of the engine bay – no problems since.
traqrat
#5
screwynewy wrote:
[quote]traqrat wrote:
[quote]Yep. I installed a crank scraper recently and my OP problems disappeared.
But beware, the crank scraper isn’t exactly precision machined and I found I had to do quite a bit of cutting and grinding before it fit.[/quote]
How involved is installing a crank scraper? Scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being changing the oil and 10 being replacing the sub frame bushings.[/quote]
It is probably a 6. Pulling the oil pan isn’t too hard. You do need to have some simple metal fab. tools to cut some material off the scraper if you get one that doesn’t fit like I did. The whole process is time consuming though. There are tons of bolts on the oilpan and getting the scraper fitted takes time too.
Igor
#6
Lance,
Where did you get the scraper from (http://crank-scrapers.com/, sumitt (IIRC they had it as well), or…)? Also, are you using baffle and accu sump as wel?
Igor
traqrat
#7
Igor,
I got it from crank-scrapers.com. I also added a little more material to the stock baffling that’s already in the pan, but that was probably unnecessary. I also have an Accusump, but that may come out later to save weight. They also make one with teflon inserts, but given how far off their base scraper was, I wouldn’t get it just because you’re inviting even more modification work. 
leggwork
#8
I have one sitting on a shelf in my garage waiting to be installed …
Did you use the form-a-gasket type stuff on both sides of the crank scrapper to install it?
thanks,
bruce
traqrat
#9
I just used some RTV silicone (aka form-a-gasket) on one side and I had a new gasket sitting around that I put on the other side. The RTV doesn’t seem to be leaking. The stock gasket will have a slight leak until it soaks with oil and becomes "cured."
EdW
#10
traqrat wrote:
[quote]Igor,
I got it from crank-scrapers.com. I also added a little more material to the stock baffling that’s already in the pan, but that was probably unnecessary. I also have an Accusump, but that may come out later to save weight. They also make one with teflon inserts, but given how far off their base scraper was, I wouldn’t get it just because you’re inviting even more modification work. :-P[/quote]
I ordered the teflon insert scraper after talking to Kevin at crank-scrapers.com. He admitted that the teflon insert will require more work than the plain steel scraper but I’m up for a challenge. It should be in the mail by now along with my rod bearings, bolts, and rings. I might have pictures by Saturday.
Ed
FARTBREF
#11
Yo guys
I would be very careful putting any RTV gasket stuff inside a motor, it can come loose and make its way to the oil pump pick up…I think the safe stuff to use is Hylomar…I have seen a lot of motors where they used RTV on the oil pan gasket and the stuff squished out on the inside made it’s way to the pump and blocked it about 50%…
Al
goldfish
#13
Thanks Lance, I meant to ask you about this at Thunderhill this weekend. This whole oil issue was big time on my mind since I don’t have an OP guage in my car yet.
Walter, if you’re on - is this the same scraper you used too?
I noticed that HMS and TMS both offer a oil pan baffle kit for the E30 M3 - will this fit, and if so has anyone tried one?
traqrat
#15
goldfish wrote:
[quote]Thanks Lance, I meant to ask you about this at Thunderhill this weekend. This whole oil issue was big time on my mind since I don’t have an OP guage in my car yet.
Walter, if you’re on - is this the same scraper you used too?
I noticed that HMS and TMS both offer a oil pan baffle kit for the E30 M3 - will this fit, and if so has anyone tried one?[/quote]
Yep, Walter installed the same one on his car.