low oil pressure + loud exhaust

[svb]

On my way to work this morning coming through Topanga Canyon, I notice the exhaust is starting to get really loud whenever I step on the throttle. It's starting to sound like the car doesn't even have a muffler.

I check the oil pressure gauge and it looks like the pressure is low. I pulled into a gas station and checked the oil -- it was still at minimum (and pretty clear looking, too), but I added a quart anyway to get it back to full.

I drove the car the next few blocks to the office and it is LOUD. At low revs it sounds normal but as soon as I get on it, it sounds like I'm running straight pipes. I checked, and yes, the muffler is still there.

The oil pressure stayed between 0 and 40psi the whole rest of the way.

Any thoughts?

[svb]

Ok, after reading this...

http://fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=6427

As a general rule: Fiats will show almost no pressure at idle when fully warmed up with the stock electric gauge. Figure about 10 psi for every 1000 rpms. Ideally you would like between 65-80 psi around 4500 rpms.

...I'm thinking the oil pressure isn't a problem at all actually, and I probably just have one issue -- the exhaust. What do you guys think?

[svb]

Oh, there's a great deal of rattling too, so I suspect the muffler may have gutted itself.

[wachuko]

Oh, there's a great deal of rattling too, so I suspect the muffler may have gutted itself.

I still don't know these cars well enough to know if cracked manifolds are common in them (that was the case with the 944/951 I had)... but sounds like your car has a cracked manifold or muffler, or a cracked weld somewhere along the exhaust system before or at the muffler...

[svb]

I had a shop take a quick look at it over lunch and they say it's the exhaust manifold gasket.

Oh and please forgive me for being a total n00b but where should I get one?

I'm sort of new to the whole not-being-able-to-walk-into-a-Kragen thing.

[wachuko]

I had a shop take a quick look at it over lunch and they say it's the exhaust manifold gasket.

Oh and please forgive me for being a total n00b but where should I get one?

I'm sort of new to the whole not-being-able-to-walk-into-a-Kragen thing.

Allisons Automotive (Mark's) site: http://allisonsautomotive.com/
IAP: http://www.international-auto.com/index.cfm/sc/29021
Vick Auto: http://www.vickauto.com/cgi-bin/store/index.html
Auto Ricambi: http://www.autoricambi.us/

Also take a look at this thread, hope it helps:

Recommended Tools, Spare Parts, Books?

[svb]

Allisons Automotive (Mark's) site: http://allisonsautomotive.com/
IAP: http://www.international-auto.com/index.cfm/sc/29021
Vick Auto: http://www.vickauto.com/cgi-bin/store/index.html
Auto Ricambi: http://www.autoricambi.us/

Also take a look at this thread, hope it helps:

Recommended Tools, Spare Parts, Books?

Thanks heaps! Went ahead and ordered the part from Mark. Those were exactly the resources I needed.

[kd1wo]

I found Autozone helpful for several items. Also if you want something generic, NAPA may be a place for little money.

[svb]

I found Autozone helpful for several items. Also if you want something generic, NAPA may be a place for little money.

Well I guess I am just assuming most parts for these cars won't be in their stock. But certainly for generic stuff like fuses and whatever, that's another story...

[svb]

So here's how this turned out:

I got the gasket from Mark. I managed to get the manifold off, replace the gasket, and get it back on with some help to get it past the water line, which was a HUGE pain.

Apparently in so doing, the hose that fits onto the metal water line became loose. I thought I'd made sure it was tight again but I was wrong. I drive a bit and begin to smell coolant. I pull over, and see coolant coming out from that same water line that runs behind the exhaust manifold. I get towed to a parts store, buy some coolant and a screwdriver and get the hose securely fastened to the metal pipe again. I check the radiator and the overflow bin and add some coolant to the overflow bin, although there was already a fair amount in there. I figure I must not have lost THAT much.

I drive to a friend's house to check it out and everything appears to be fine. While there, I leave it idling, parked, for a couple minutes while we're looking at it. The temperature spikes and I shut the car off. After letting it cool, I check the levels again and they seem fine. I add a bit of coolant to the radiator for good measure.

The whole drive home I'm watching the temp gauge. It seems to get hotter when stopped, and will get cooler again once I get going again. It didn't overheat, but it mostly stayed above the halfway mark on the temp gauge. Do I need to do a coolant flush, or should I be worried about any other parts?

[jimincalif]

Sounds like you need to "burp" the cooling system to get air out to allow the thermostat to operate properly.

[svb]

Sounds like you need to "burp" the cooling system to get air out to allow the thermostat to operate properly.

OK, that makes sense. I hope I haven't damaged the pump.

Is there anything special involved in what you're talking about or should I just flush the system?

[mdrburchette]

These cars can be fussy when air gets in the system. Just remember the radiator is lower than the highest part of the head, so you need to jack the front end up so the radiator is the highest part of the cooling system. I usually run the engine with the radiator cap off and squeeze the hoses while checking for air bubbles coming from the radiator. When the car hits around 190, the fan should come on. Usually, that means you've successfully burped the system.

[svb]

These cars can be fussy when air gets in the system. Just remember the radiator is lower than the highest part of the head, so you need to jack the front end up so the radiator is the highest part of the cooling system. I usually run the engine with the radiator cap off and squeeze the hoses while checking for air bubbles coming from the radiator. When the car hits around 190, the fan should come on. Usually, that means you've successfully burped the system.

Thanks heaps, I did exactly this and it did the trick! No problems since then.