580C engine oil pressure low

[donniep31]

I am trying to find information on the Case 207D oil pump. I purchase an old 580C to clear property and it starts up pretty much as soon as you touch the key. The oil pressure starts off around 70psi and somewhere after running for a while it drops to 20psi. I have yet to notice if it is gradual or a sharp drop.
The oil has been replaced twice since I've had it with 15w-40 and new filter. Oil level is checked every time I use it and its good every time. Everything is pointing to an issue with the oil pump or relief valve from the information I have read. That being said if I drop the oil pan to inspect the pump, I plan on just replacing it due to the age of the machine.

If anyone has any suggestions on a different path it will be helpful.

Engine runs smooth
No odd noises
Oil pressure responds to throttle movement but will not rise above 25psi once it falls off.
Has an aftermarket gauge that was on the machine when I purchased it
Engine temp 190

Thanks

 

[HarleyHappy]

Sounds like the oil pressure is fine. I would try a new gauge to verify.
70 psi is way too high to begin with.

 

[HoeHoeHoe]

The pump has a pressure regulator valve.
70 is within acceptable range.
I would verify pressure with another gage.
Case spec is 5w-30 for engine oil BTW I use 5w-40 since its easy to get.
Either the pressure valve is faulty, bearings are worn or rocker arms are worn if another gage has the same reading.

 

[donniep31]

Well, I installed a new gauge and filter. The pressure came up to around 50psi. It stayed for a while and slowly started to drift down. It held between 30-40for about an hour than started to creep down a little more. I shut the machine down when it drifted to close to 20psi.
I did notice that there was no oil in the filter when I replaced it. From the drawings I have seen this would make me lean to the relief or pump leaking. The previous oil filters had oil in them when I removed them.
I ordered a new pump and will remove the pan tomorrow to get it out and verify that there isn't something else in there that would cause the issue.

 

[HoeHoeHoe]

Well, I installed a new gauge and filter. The pressure came up to around 50psi. It stayed for a while and slowly started to drift down. It held between 30-40for about an hour than started to creep down a little more. I shut the machine down when it drifted to close to 20psi.
I did notice that there was no oil in the filter when I replaced it. From the drawings I have seen this would make me lean to the relief or pump leaking. The previous oil filters had oil in them when I removed them.
I ordered a new pump and will remove the pan tomorrow to get it out and verify that there isn't something else in there that would cause the issue.

Good luck, I'm not sure if you can change the pump in the machine. Let us know how it goes.
Does the oil filter have anti drain back valve? Oil filter should have oil in it even if pump valve is bad?

 

[donniep31]

View attachment IMG_9405.jpegYes you can take the pump out in the machine. The front 4 bolts are not fun. If I would have have my big box it may have been a little better. I just had a basic socket set and wrenches. The pan needed to be in the right spot to get it out but it didn’t take long to figure it out.
As you can tell by the picture the screen had some buildup and the pump does look like it has some wear on it. I ordered a pump from broken tractor Friday and it was here when I got back from the property today.

 

[HoeHoeHoe]

View attachment 351785Yes you can take the pump out in the machine. The front 4 bolts are not fun. If I would have have my big box it may have been a little better. I just had a basic socket set and wrenches. The pan needed to be in the right spot to get it out but it didn’t take long to figure it out.
As you can tell by the picture the screen had some buildup and the pump does look like it has some wear on it. I ordered a pump from broken tractor Friday and it was here when I got back from the property today.

Very good to know!
Worth plastigage some main bearings to see how healthy it is?

 

[Willie B]

A new engine will be balanced. It'll send pressurized oil everywhere it needs to be. As an engine wears, imballance is a concern. I'll guess most common problem is the crankshaft bearings. They wear, allowing oil to flow freely. Pressure drops, might not get enough oil to the extreme corners.
Typically engine rebuild kits aren't overwhelming in cost.

 

[JL Sargent]

Oil pressure gauges are like butt-holes. They're all different.

A friend pulled a 6 cylinder diesel engine for low oil pressure at around 10 psi when hot. He then attached it to a power take off for a round blade sawmill and continued to run it with that low oil pressure for years. Your results may vary!

 

[donniep31]

View attachment IMG_9464.jpegFor the age of the machine and the oil pump issues they look to have some wear but the crank didn’t have any signs of scarring. I had to jack the engine up to get the pan back on. Everything else went good. It’s back up and running. I used for a few hours yesterday and shut it off. Went back today and ran it for about 5 hours and oil pressure stayed around 35 to 40, once it warmed up.
Hopefully this lets it last for a while without any more issues.

 

[HoeHoeHoe]

View attachment 352630For the age of the machine and the oil pump issues they look to have some wear but the crank didn’t have any signs of scarring. I had to jack the engine up to get the pan back on. Everything else went good. It’s back up and running. I used for a few hours yesterday and shut it off. Went back today and ran it for about 5 hours and oil pressure stayed around 35 to 40, once it warmed up.
Hopefully this lets it last for a while without any more issues.

Did you change all the bearings too?

 

[donniep31]

Did you change all the bearings too?

Yes, all rod and mains were replaced. The forward most bearing was the most difficult to get out and reinstall. Other than that it wasn’t too difficult to get them out.

 

[Simon C]

View attachment 352630For the age of the machine and the oil pump issues they look to have some wear but the crank didn’t have any signs of scarring. I had to jack the engine up to get the pan back on. Everything else went good. It’s back up and running. I used for a few hours yesterday and shut it off. Went back today and ran it for about 5 hours and oil pressure stayed around 35 to 40, once it warmed up.
Hopefully this lets it last for a while without any more issues.

Those bearings were close to spinning. No wonder the oil pressure needed to be repaired. Glad you got her done in time.
Simon C

 

[Tubroos]

Yes, all rod and mains were replaced. The forward most bearing was the most difficult to get out and reinstall. Other than that it wasn’t too difficult to get them out.

You managed to change all the main bearings without pulling the engine?

 

[Welder Dave]

I would have thought 20 PSI is still acceptable. Have heard some engines only need 7 PSI oil pressure. Some Detroit 2 strokes barely show oil pressure at idle.

 

[Willie B]

I would have thought 20 PSI is still acceptable. Have heard some engines only need 7 PSI oil pressure. Some Detroit 2 strokes barely show oil pressure at idle.

1973 my neighbor had a Jeep CJ3B. Needle on the gauge didn't move. Replaced the gauge, still didn't move. Disconnected the gauge end of the tube, oil came gushing out with pressure. He drove it another ten years without incident until the frame rusted away.

 

[donniep31]

You managed to change all the main bearings without pulling the engine?

Yes. Dropped the pan and replaced all rod and main bearings while I was in there.

 

[Mike-G]

I had a case 450 track loader with the 207d engine. I ran it with rotella 15w40 for 18 years with zero problems. Finally there was a pin hole in one of the liners and I had to rebuild it. The engine, with regard to the oil looked great. Just saying.