strange and scary oil gremlin, temp drop to zero! Options

[iankarr]

Hi Guys,

Finally getting the 2056 running great and took it out for a 15 minute drive around the hood.

As I'm climbing a hill at about 3000rpm, I see the green light come on and I immediately lay off the gas. I check the VDO mechanical oil gauge and it's reading zero. Not sure if I imagined this part, but I could swear I heard a slight metal-on-metal friction sound in the engine for a few seconds. There was a line of cars behind me, and being on a hill, no real safe place to pull over, so I put it back in gear and gave it a little gas to get me to a safe place. The green light went out, the VDO gauge read 35 and all seemed well. Was able to drive the remaining 10 blocks home without incident and at normal pressure.

I checked the grounds on the gauges and all seems fine. The light sender and VDO sender are in different places, so little chance both grounds went bad at the same time.

I let the car cool down a bit and checked the oil...a quart low. I guess the slight drip from the taco plate and all the tuning and testing I've done used more than I thought.

Wouldn't it be weird for the oil pump to just stop and then start again? or could that possibly be a sign of a failing pump?

Or could it be something simple like driving up hill while a quart low on oil?

Def something I don't want to experience again!

Ideas welcome. Thanks!

[iankarr]

Thanks Pancake and Rich. Will strain the oil and see. It's always something, isn't it?

If the oil pump needs to be replaced, is that something that can be done with the engine in the car? Or do I get another opportunity to use my Tangerine jack plate? Hoping the case halves don't need to come apart....

I'm still betting (hoping) on low oil level which caused the pump to pull dry for a few seconds. Will keep ya posted!