99bonnevillese,

Man that is one I haven't thought of. I swooned when I read that! Tell me this then........... why would the oil pressure stay up during this crazy act? ....and why would my lifters not start sounding like steel popcorn popping?

Also, would that not be a problem with all Bonne's then?

Ok Hector. I've never had this happen, and I've hit some pretty damn hard corners, and held it. The oil pressure is something too.

That's what I am here for, for new information. :D Because the oil pressure gauge like all the gauges are not going to update immediately (they are all analog). That's why you will see (real) import guys put a newer tach in (they are typically electronic that's why they are so expensive) because they will update faster (and important if you are shifting at 8-9k rpms :shock: ). The lifters are not going to make any noise because oil is not going to drain out of them like water. Oil has a much higher viscocity than water. Think about this, when you change your oil, why dont your lifters make noise after the oil change? There is no oil, well technically there is no oil in the pan, but there is oil still in the engine, if you let your car sit for a few months then yes the oil will drain out of the rest of the engine and when you refill the oil and turn on the engine again, you will hear noise of clicking from many parts until the oil pump does its job and reoil the engine within the first few minutes.

No this would not be a problem. Think about it, it only occurs when you are doing LONG sweeping turns, if it happened in every turn it would be a problem. I drift my car in turns all the time (swing out the back end and powerslide the car w/ all 4 wheels skiding :shock: when I feel bored and at around 2am, going to the gym basically :P). I know I am crazy but yeah, that's what I do, and it's also suspension testing. :D And yes I know my car is FWD but I have practiced much on how to do it, I dont recommend other people try it. And yes I will eventually post the video of my doing this when I feel like it. ;) Hope that explantion is good enough for you.[/quote]

If I ever get a hold of your car, I can make it happen to if you want. Give me 30 seconds, not that hard. It's not quick turn but LONG turns that do this. It takes a while for the oil to move to the other side of the pan. It's viscoity is higher than water.

Ok, put down the rum for a second, partner. Explain the fact that it's usually asssociated with a 1/4 tank of gas?

Worm your way out of that one, smartass! :lol:

Do you change your fuel filter every 30,000 miles like you are supposed to? That could be blocking flow from the fuel pump. I would have to see the car up close or have more information. From the info I had, it is a good chance of it being lack of oil pumping.

99bonnevillese,

<<why dont your lifters make noise after the oil change?>>

Some of my cars have done that for a second or 2 after startup on very hot days.

Anyway, let's go over your theory again. I want to understand this. Let me get this right.....

1. You are saying that even moderate "left-hand only sweeping turns" in a Bonne is enough to cause the oil to sling to the right outside of the oilpan hard enough to leave the oil pickup screen uncovered with oil, right? Even with a full load of oil.
2. And, I assume that this action is predisposed to happen only when the fuel in the tank is about 1/4 full........cause it does not occur when there is more fuel than this in the tank.
3. Let's assume that this happens.
4. Now, the screen begins to suck air from the pan.
5. And all of the oil passageways, bearing journals, etc. are slightly starved for oil by this decreased ptside of the oilpan hard enough to leave the oil pickup screen uncovered with oil, right? Even with a full load of oil.
2. And, I assume that this action is predisposed to happen only when the fuel in the tank is about 1/4 full........cause it does not occur when there is more fuel than this in the tank.
3. Let's assume that this happens.
4. Now, the screen begins to suck air from the pan.
5. And all of the oil passageways, bearing journals, etc. are slightly starved for oil by this decreased pressure, which does not begin to register on the oil pressure gauge for up to 30 secs. or so, cause that is about how long some of those off-ramps take to get around them.
6. Your assumption, then, is that the system detects this drop in oil pressure (which has not triggered the idiot light or gauge yet), and via the car's ECM shuts the engine down.
7. Is all of this correct.
8. If so, what exactly triggers this engine shut-down again?
9. And you know, for a fact, that the Bonne (and pressure, which does not begin to register on the oil pressure gauge for up to 30 secs. or so, cause that is about how long some of those off-ramps take to get around them.
6. Your assumption, then, is that the system detects this drop in oil pressure (which has not triggered the idiot light or gauge yet), and via the car's ECM shuts the engine down.
7. Is all of this correct.
8. If so, what exactly triggers this engine shut-down again?
9. And you know, for a fact, that the Bonne (and prob. all of the GM V-6 line) engine will shut down with low oil pressure of a predetermined pressure?

First of all, sometimes it does happen that your lifters might make a little noise on a hotter day since the engine is warmed up from the heat, thus warming the oil and making it slide down much easier from the top of the engine (where the lifters are) thus they dont have as much oil as they would normally on a average temperature day. Also depends on what oil you run (10W-30, 5W-30, etc). Basically it's normal. I dont know how hot of a day you get. But even here in SoCal where it has gotten to the 100's or even when I got to Las Vegas every year and its 110+ I never get lifter noise from my engine. And my car is black and asorbs heat.

I did not say . Depends on the turn, angle, how much oil is in your pan, how long you have been turning, how much body roll your car experiences, how fast you are going, etc, etc etc. There are m it's normal. I dont know how hot of a day you get. But even here in SoCal where it has gotten to the 100's or even when I got to Las Vegas every year and its 110+ I never get lifter noise from my engine. And my car is black and asorbs heat.

I did not say . Depends on the turn, angle, how much oil is in your pan, how long you have been turning, how much body roll your car experiences, how fast you are going, etc, etc etc. There are many more factors than just "the turn". I powerslide my car every so often but because I have done suspension work on my car the body roll is minimal and I do not starve the engine of oil.

My suggestion of oil starvation is TOTALLY independant of the 1/4 tank of gas. They are not going to affect each other. If the PCM detect a loss in oil pressure, it will cut the fuel until it detects oil pressure again. I know for a fact that that most cars in the world since the 80's do that. Even when the first introduany more factors than just "the turn". I powerslide my car every so often but because I have done suspension work on my car the body roll is minimal and I do not starve the engine of oil.

My suggestion of oil starvation is TOTALLY independant of the 1/4 tank of gas. They are not going to affect each other. If the PCM detect a loss in oil pressure, it will cut the fuel until it detects oil pressure again. I know for a fact that that most cars in the world since the 80's do that. Even when the first introduced TPI on FWD cars they do that. Lack of oil pressure tells the computer to cut off fuel until there is oil pressure again.

You need to try and give us more information or I am just going to assume you case is unique to your car. Other Bonneville's do not have the problem of the fuel tank/fuel pump issues. You could have something funky somewhere in the fuel system. Perhaps a worn out oil pump. There are many possibilities.

How many miles are on your Bonneville? It could be also just be that 92 Bced TPI on FWD cars they do that. Lack of oil pressure tells the computer to cut off fuel until there is oil pressure again.

You need to try and give us more information or I am just going to assume you case is unique to your car. Other Bonneville's do not have the problem of the fuel tank/fuel pump issues. You could have something funky somewhere in the fuel system. Perhaps a worn out oil pump. There are many possibilities.

How many miles are on your Bonneville? It could be also just be that 92 Bonneville's have this problem. Over the years GM has ironed out many bugs in the 3.8L's. That could have been a small one that affects only a small percentage of 92 Bonneville's so they did not recall them.

for some reason i really dont think the original problem has to do with the oil . it never really stalls out so you have to restart the car. it just wont accelerate. and it is only to do with the bottom bit of hte tank. maybe im all wrong :( :)

That happens to me all the time. Only on left turns . Almost got rearended the other day because of it. I have no idea why though.