1990 Audi 100 - Oil Pan Update

[MSCAUDI100]

So I finally had some time to work on my oil pressure problem. I'm attacking it from the top end as well as the bottom of the motor. While the oil was draining, I removed and inspected the camshaft and lifters. Everything looks fine, it would appear that the Lucas assembly lube and whatever oil was getting to the top end kept everything running smoothly enough so as not to cause damage. Good news. My goal for tomorrow is to clear out those oil galleys where the lifters sit. I want nice clear oil flow through the entire top end. My tool of choice will be an air compressor. I jacked up the car from both sides to relieve weight on the front end. With the subframe supported (just in case) I eased the two bolts out from either side, making sure that nothing above would drop with it. Nothing else dropped. Excellent. Removed the bolts the entire way and the front part of the subframe lowered nicely out of the way to expose the oil pan. The oil pan bolts were somewhat crusted over with rust, but I was able to get a 10mm socket around most of them with no trouble. One of them was already rounded off... got it out, but it will now need to be replaced. The ones in the back were hidden behind the transmission inspection plate which, for some crazy reason, is held in with eight, yes eight, bolts! Once the pan was dropped, it was clear what my problem was. Not only had a decent amount of sediment gathered in the bottom of the pan where there isn't much suction, but the entire screen in the oil pickup tube was completely packed with gunk. I mean, this stuff looked like fresh asphalt... not good, and would explain my lack of oil pressure. I removed the pickup tube, cleaned it all out, and it will be reinstalled as soon as my replacement gasket for it arrives. Thanks for all who replied to my earlier posts! Questions and comments are always welcome and appreciated!

[jurq]

After you get it all back together, run a half of a can of seafoam in your oil for up to, but not more than, 100 miles. This will help loosen any residual sludge hiding in nooks and crannies. Then, change the oil AND THE FILTER!

You won't believe what nastiness comes out after the seafoam....

[MSCAUDI100]

This Seafoam... I've read about it a few times on this forum - does it really do a good job at reducing sludge to particles small enough to be completely drained from the system? I feel like my first attempt at cleaning the engine out loosened all the built-up gunk but subsequently caused a massive logjam in my oil system. Granted I wasn't using anything fancy to clean with... just some Purple Power degreaser, and then ran a quart of GUNK engine cleaner through the reassembled motor. Maybe I should have used this Seafoam stuff in the first place... =\

[jurq]

petroleum based products inside your crank case...