Had been mostly sitting for a few years. Drove it around the block every now and again. Been driving it almost daily now for a few hundred miles. Short around town trips. Everything is as it should be. Oil temp never goes over about 210 unless a big headwind or something. Idle pressure is maybe 10 or so...12? Engine is pretty fresh if I recall... it has been years, but very few miles. Never overheated or other disasters.
Today: All systems go... drive down the street, get on the highway, go about 2 miles, smell hot oil, check gauge, it is at ZERO! s*it my pants, pull over. Sounds a bit noisy... no leaks no weird smoke etc, belt is ok. Oil level is ok. Start it back up after about 5 minutes. Sounds fine, take off down the highway... watching the gauges like a hawk... seems a bit sluggish but still sounds ok.... oil heat gauge is rising toooo fast.... gets to 210 in about a mile and a half and oil pressure is dropping from 40 to 35 or so to 15... 10.... I pull over again.... hmmm... wait a few minutes and repeat process.... same story. When the oil pressure goes way down there, the noise level increases... sounds kinda like a rod I guess... but then it sounds just fine as the pressure miraculously goes back up, sometimes even while driving.... low pressure = noise, regular pressure = seems fine. Made one turn, and pressure went to zero in the turn... maybe unrelated, maybe not... seemed kinda important but was in too much of a panic to check the turn theory again as I needed to get the thing home pronto....
Ok.... go ahead and give me the bad news.... I can take it.
Thanks!
ps: Hi Kath and Blinny!