Low oil pressure after Maxlife?

[buck91]

Recently did an oil change on the GF's 2001 Aurora with the 3.5L V6, went to Maxlife 5W30 and a (hate to admit it) Fram filter. After looking at the other cartridge options in the store and knowing the Fram cartridge filters have a decent reputation in the bike world I figured what the heck and took advantage of the fram/maxlife oil change special (pretty much every filter option for that car is at elast $10 at brick and mortar stores).

Anyways, long of the short is that now the car is developing a low oil pressure warning for the first few minutes after a cold start and this has never happened before. Actually after I changed the oil I started the car and let is run for a bit with no issues but the next day when the GF tok it out this began. This car has never- that I know of- demonstrated this problem, though it seems to have every other electronic idiot message problem one could think of. The level is within spec and the filter did not appear to have a suggested orientation and it also did have both rubber grommets in place on the ends. Has anybody ran into this with maxlife motor oil? Any suggestions? I almost want to get under the car again and r&r the filter cartridge just to make sure I didn't screw anything up, though there really wasnt anything to go wrong there....

 

[Trav]

It sounds like maybe the filter is not sealing inside, try another brand of filter.

 

[TechnoLoGs]

Originally Posted By: Trav
It sounds like maybe the filter is not sealing inside, try another brand of filter.


+1

I took a look-see at this thread because I just bought 3 gallons of clearance Maxlife Nextgen at Autozone, so I am now set with oil for awhile, call it a year or so. I thought it would be unusual that an oil that i have used as much as any other one would make oil pressure go down, independently and of itself, unless the OP simply dropped a grade and noticed good results, which is always good.

I read FRAM filter, and my first thought was, "Oh Creator, it really is true, never get Fram." And I shudder because I almost did once.

 

[Garak]

The MaxLife helped retain oil pressure in the F-150 before the rebuild, rather than give me low pressure problems. So, assuming you're still within spec (i.e. didn't go from 20w-50 to 5w-20), look elsewhere such as the filter.

 

[TechnoLoGs]

At this point, I think it would be a shame if it was the filter, although upon first read it appears to be the case. Strong possible. I mean, I hear it over and over and with regularity. Sometimes on the boards, before people get called out as being "FRAM haters" and debashing a product.. but, there IS a moniker, OCOD, or "Orange Can of Death." I think to myself.. "Can't be true. Can't be the case!" Now, I am not a FRAM hater, matter of fact I have always been fascinated by Fram. I have never used Fram but I have always had a neutral opinion of Fram. That means that if I go into an autostore, I am most likely going to buy Purolator. Beyond that, I look to ACDelco and Supertech, which I have not seen in a very very long time, with its black can.

It seems like hating or bashing Fram spefically is a juvenile thing to do, and hopefully (they have to have! Right?) they changed how they make things. IIRC, Honeywell Industries makes FRAM and they are out of Morristown, NJ. I almost worked forklift there in my younger days.

Point is, if it is the Fram filter causing this problem, and it sounds like it is (OP says he used the Fram filter for the first time and this problem immediately started happening,) then that is a shame that the OCOD naysayer moniker has another case of fuel. If Fram is that bad

 

[JHZR2]

I put max life nexgen and a fram ultra on my truck and it is business as usual.

You sure the right grade of oil was selected? Right level? Filter in there right?

How many miles on the car?

So,etching doesn't add up, but I'm failing to see how it would be the oil.

 

[buck91]

Ok some google pointed me towards an electronic issue. Oil pressure display always read 131psi in the past and I just figured it was a digital version of the idiot gauges so common now. Apparently the oil pressure senders are prone to failure and reading either min (0) or Max (131). So I'm pretty confindent its simply a coindidental electronic failure. Although I'm a bit concerned that a oil pressure sender signal of 0psi doesn't result in engine shutdown...

 

[TechnoLoGs]

Originally Posted By: buck91
Ok some google pointed me towards an electronic issue. Oil pressure display always read 131psi in the past and I just figured it was a digital version of the idiot gauges so common now. Apparently the oil pressure senders are prone to failure and reading either min (0) or Max (131). So I'm pretty confindent its simply a coindidental electronic failure. Although I'm a bit concerned that a oil pressure sender signal of 0psi doesn't result in engine shutdown...


Many of us run thin motor oil with almost 0psi in the forms of various 0W-20s as the readily available stuff that you can buy at any store anyways and our engines last for hundreds of thousands of miles so its all good!

 

[cat843]

No one was concerned when the oil pressure showed 131 PSI? Its oil pressure in an engine, not hydraulic pressure in a bulldozer.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: TechnoLoGs
Originally Posted By: buck91
Ok some google pointed me towards an electronic issue. Oil pressure display always read 131psi in the past and I just figured it was a digital version of the idiot gauges so common now. Apparently the oil pressure senders are prone to failure and reading either min (0) or Max (131). So I'm pretty confindent its simply a coindidental electronic failure. Although I'm a bit concerned that a oil pressure sender signal of 0psi doesn't result in engine shutdown...


Many of us run thin motor oil with almost 0psi in the forms of various 0W-20s as the readily available stuff that you can buy at any store anyways and our engines last for hundreds of thousands of miles so its all good!

Almost 0psi? You'd probably be pretty surprised by how much oil pressure a Modular's gyrator-style oil pump develops on 0w-20.

 

[Eddie]

He said it is a Cartridge filter so there is no way that it could affect oil pressure, I think. Could be a sticking pressure regulator in the engine or a electronic gremlin.

 

[Doog]

Originally Posted By: cat843
No one was concerned when the oil pressure showed 131 PSI? Its oil pressure in an engine, not hydraulic pressure in a bulldozer.


LOL...exactly....131 psi in the engine.... shouldn't oil be squirting out everywhere at that pressure?

 

[Trav]

Originally Posted By: Eddie
He said it is a Cartridge filter so there is no way that it could affect oil pressure, I think. Could be a sticking pressure regulator in the engine or a electronic gremlin.

This cartridge IIRC uses a large rubber seal on top, if it gets damaged or pinched it could cause problems, others use a small anti drain back O Ring on the bottom that can also cause trouble if torn or not seating properly.
If the cartridge just has end caps then your right there is probably nothing to go wrong.

 

[bigt61]

Is it possible the Maxlife dislodged some sludge which is now clogging the oil pump p/u screen? Without pulling the pan, maybe another oil change and a switch back to a less aggressive cleaning oil of maybe a 10W-40 or 20W-50 viscosity might buy you some time and slow down the engine de-sludging. If that's what's happening.

 

[Merkava_4]

Remove the Fram and replace with ACDelco PF2129

 

[antiqueshell]

I'm thinking that the oil filter was incorrectly installed and or something on it is defective. Since the OP stated that the car was running PERFECTLY BEFORE the oil and filter were changed. But it could just a likely be that the MaxLife has cleaned debris and it has plugged the oil pump pickup.

 

[bigjl]

I would also feel the more likely cause of low oil pressure at startup would be the filter.

Though I suppose it is also likely that the oil pickup is partially blocked and less oil is being sucked up when the oil is cold.

 

[buck91]

I'm rahter confident it is electrical as the digital dash readout will only show 131psi or 0psi.

 

[asand1]

In your reading, have you found whether it is the sender or cluster?

 

[Kestas]

Do you get valve clatter at idle?